‘Elect Hindu MLA’: BJP candidates’ Islamophobic campaign in Kerala elections
In at least two constituencies in Kerala, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates contesting as National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominees have drawn criticism for running Islamophobic campaigns that directly and indirectly question the election of Muslim MLAs and call for electing “Hindu MLAs” instead in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The controversy has emerged from Guruvayoor and Aluva constituencies, where campaign speeches and hoardings have been accused of attempting to polarise voters along religious lines by highlighting the religious identity of past elected representatives.
In Guruvayoor, NDA candidate and senior BJP leader B. Gopalakrishnan stated that the constituency had not elected a Hindu MLA in the past 50 years. He questioned why a national pilgrimage centre like Guruvayoor had not been represented by a Hindu legislator, alleging that neither the Left Democratic Front (LDF) nor the United Democratic Front (UDF) fields candidates from the Hindu community.
Following these remarks, a complaint was filed before the Election Commission of India (ECI), which forwarded the matter to the Guruvayur Temple Police and directed the District Collector to take appropriate action. Subsequently, the police registered a case against Gopalakrishnan under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with promoting enmity on religious grounds.
Despite the case, Gopalakrishnan has continued his campaign, invoking the Guruvayur temple and reiterating statements that critics describe as “polarising.” When questioned by the media about campaigning along religious lines, he stood by his remarks and said he would continue to repeat them.
On March 27, the Kerala High Court directed the Election Commission to consider a representation filed against Gopalakrishnan in connection with the incident. The petition was submitted by Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) leader Gokul Guruvayoor.
Days later, he once again courted controversy after campaign hoardings allegedly questioning the repeated election of Muslim MLAs in the constituency drew criticism from political opponents and observers.
The hoardings, installed as part of his election campaign, listed all MLAs who have represented the constituency since 1977 under the headline, “Don’t you see?” The poster carried the caption, “50 years of disregard. This should change! And to change this… Advocate B. Gopalakrishnan,” alongside the NDA’s election symbol.
While the hoardings do not explicitly mention religion, critics allege that the campaign subtly highlights the religious identity of past representatives and attempts to mobilise voters along communal lines. All the MLAs listed are Muslims. Their names were written in white on a green background, while the BJP candidate’s photograph and campaign slogan appeared in saffron.
In the hoarding, the names of Koru Kooliyat, an independent MLA who won in 1957, K. G. Karunakara Menon, a Congress MLA who won in 1960, and independent MLA V. Vadakan, who won in 1970, were omitted, as they did not belong to the Muslim community.
A similar campaign was observed in Aluva constituency, where BJP’s M.A. Brahmaraj is contesting as the NDA candidate. Maktoob found the same hoarding, which has not been reported by the media in Kerala.
The hoarding listed all MLAs who have represented the constituency since 1957 under the same headline, “Don’t you see?” The poster carried the caption, “68 years of disregard. This should change! And to change this… M.A. Brahmaraj,” alongside the NDA’s election symbol.
As in Guruvayoor, all the MLAs listed were Muslims, with their names written in white on a green background, while the BJP candidate’s image and slogan appeared in saffron.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP Haris Beeran, speaking to Maktoob, condemned the campaign and said it is alarming that the othering of Muslims has become a campaign tool in elections.
He also recalled that earlier CPI(M) minister Saji Cherian had echoed similar remarks, asking people to look at the religion of winners in Kasargod.
Advocate Mohammed Shah, an IUML state leader, told Maktoob that the UDF leadership has taken both issues very seriously and has already initiated legal action against them.
Arvind U., a voter in Aluva constituency, told Maktoob that the BJP hoarding is “very dangerous” and that the silence over it is “even more dangerous.”
“We see them as our MLAs and past representatives, not merely as Muslims. There are dozens of constituencies in Kerala where only MLAs belonging to the Hindu community have been winning. Was that considered a disregard? Why are there no such hoardings in those places?” he asked.
