What SDPI's Decision To Support UDF Means For Kerala Politics

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), alleged to be the political arm of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), recently announced its decision to support the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and not field any candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

It stated that the reason to support the UDF at the state level is that the Congress is leading the INDI alliance at the national level, taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and fighting 'fascism.'

While it has been stated by both sides that talks were not held between their representatives and that the SDPI had decided this on its own during their internal meetings, it is the Congress that is going to be at a disadvantage after what the SDPI has said.

Though this is likely to lead to a much higher consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the Congress, it could also put off the party's Christian and Hindu voters as the PFI's alleged links to the SDPI are well known.

Soon after the decision, Kerala BJP state president K Surendran addressing the media, asked if the Congress wanted PFI votes. He asked Rahul Gandhi to explain his position on the matter.

Later, LDF convenor E P Jayarajan also criticised the Congress.

A video of a young boy raising slogans saying, “Hindus should keep rice for their last rites, and Christians should keep incense for their last rites. If you live decently, you can live in our land, and if you don’t live decently, we know Azadi (freedom). Live decently, decently, decently,” at a PFI rally went viral in May 2022.

The SDPI, if it contested alone, could have used these polls to increase its vote share in a few seats like Malappuram or Ponnani by tapping into the discontent in some sections of the Muslim community against the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), especially over the remarks of its state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal regarding the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

A political observer who did not wish to be named said that in a state like Kerala, where the gap between the vote shares of each front is usually not too high in any election, parties getting 5-10 per cent of votes play a crucial role in deciding the outcome.

He further said that this decision of the SDPI could have been orchestrated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

When asked as to why could he possibly do that, he said that the SDPI allegedly backs some of the party's MPs and MLAs and now by making it declare support to the UDF, his party can enjoy their support from behind the scenes, while it would be the UDF that would have to take the blame for having the backing of radical elements.

"With fewer Hindus and Christians supporting the UDF after this announcement of the SDPI, he will be able to get more support for LDF and strengthen his position," he concluded.