Malappuram: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state president Panakkad Sayed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal has criticised the LDF government for announcing major welfare schemes ahead of the local body polls, warning that the growing trend of “welfare-scheme politics” is eroding democratic values.

Speaking at the Meet the Leader programme organised by the Malappuram Press Club, Thangal urged voters to look beyond last-minute welfare packages and prioritise Kerala’s long-term development. He said the state’s electorate is “vigilant and sensible”, making it impossible to influence votes through pre-election giveaways.

Thangal acknowledged differences between the Congress and IUML over seat-sharing in southern Kerala but expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved soon. He said the IUML’s three-term cap for parliamentary representatives was introduced to ensure wider opportunities within the party. However, no decision had been taken to extend it to the assembly elections.

He said the UDF had treated the upcoming polls as a “semi-final” ahead of the assembly elections, adding that the IUML had fielded a strong mix of women, youth and experienced leaders. The party completed its candidate selection early, and Thangal expressed confidence that the alliance would win more local bodies than last time. He said UDF-led local governance had been consistently people-centric, with the IUML’s internal monitoring ensuring accountability and the renomination of only those who performed well.

Thangal said the upliftment of marginalised communities must remain a priority and emphasised the need for capable leadership to ensure that both development and welfare reach every section of society. He highlighted the rise in women’s participation, noting that over 60 per cent of IUML candidates this time are women, many of whom are expected to be elected—an important step for women’s empowerment, he said.

Thangal also criticised the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it impractical. Citing the “unbelievable” outcome in Bihar, he said the mechanism required more scrutiny before being implemented in Kerala. The IUML has approached the court against the hurried implementation of SIR during the election period. Thangal warned that attempts to destabilise democratic processes were becoming more frequent under the central government and said what happened in Bihar “should never be allowed in Kerala.”