The CPM is evidently twitchy about how Welfare Party of India (WPI), the political wing of Jamaat-e-Islami approaches the local body elections. The party has persistently hurled vicious statements against the WPI, calling it communal. CPM's senior leaders have gone after the UDF for its implicit understanding with the WPI in various local body wards.

Going by the numbers, the CPM, which enjoys a dominant edge in local body elections, needn't be worried. In 2020, the WPI cumulatively won just over 32,000 votes in gram panchayats across Kerala. This accounts for 1.16% of total votes polled in panchayats where the WPI contested elections. The vote share is even lesser in block panchayats and civic bodies. The minuscule impact of the WPI becomes glaring when looking at what UDF's two major constituents raked up in 2020. Congress and the IUML won 45 lakh and 12 lakh votes in gram panchayats, respectively, in the 2020 elections.

Political observers say that the CPM's strategy to malign the WPI and the UDF has less to do with the numbers than with a much more rooted agenda. By portraying WPI and UDF in a communal light, the party seeks to reinforce its secular image and win over Christian and Hindu votes. The party hopes that by attacking the UDF in the northern part of Kerala for its understanding with the WPI, it can reap benefits in the South. The communal snub on WPI could result in consolidation of Hindu votes in the Southern districts and this will bolster CPM's campaign against a belligerent BJP.

"This strategy is expected to help the CPM win Hindu votes and split the Christian votes. Any such split in Christian votes will badly hurt the UDF. The CPM could cause confusion in the minds of Christian voters. This is a long-term plan of the CPM which they will stick to even after the local body elections," said G Gopakumar, Political Scientist and Psephologist.

CPM mouthpiece Deshabhimani has reported that UDF and WPI will back each other in as many as 111 wards. In some civic bodies, such as Vadakara, posters show WPI candidates contesting elections with UDF support. The plot is being followed in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kannur. The CPM has been critical of the manner in which senior Muslim League leaders declared the candidacy of the WPI party representatives in Malappuram.

It is learnt that Muslim League has an understanding with the WPI in over thirty panchayats in Malappuram. CPM has listed out seats where WPI and UDF support each other; Madayi and Muzhupilangad in Kannur, Koduvally municipality, Kodiyathur, Thiruvalloor, Ayanchery and Naduvannor panchayats in the northern districts. In Central Kerala, the CPM has vehemently opposed UDF-backed WPI candidates in Erattupetta municipality and Kanjirappally panchayat.

Political observers said that the open assault on UDF for its understanding with the WPI will dent its secular face and, in the meantime, could bring back Hindu voters to the CPM front. The CPM has also repeated critical statements from the leaders of prominent Muslim organisations against the Muslim League for its decision to hold hands with the WPI. Samastha's state joint secretary, Umar Faizi Mukkam, recently warned people against the WPI and Jamaat-e-Islami. The warning came at a function attended by the IUML state president Panakkad Sadiqali Shihab Thangal.

The CPM has cashed in by highlighting wards in Parappangadi municipality, Padaparambu block panchayat division, where Muslim League left seats open to be picked up by the WPI. The Congress has not acknowledged any such understanding with the WPI.

The CPM's move to antagonise the Jamaat-e-Islami was initially a balancing act when CPM championed the anti-CAA protests. After the Lok Sabha elections drubbing, the CPM, however, persisted with the tactic and stuck with it even during the Nilambur bypoll. "The CPM has a definite advantage in local body elections. It may be thought that by consistently attaching a communal tag to the WPI, the party can win the trust of secular voters and those from other communities," another political observer said.

In 2020, the UDF has banked on the support of the WPI to win one panchayat in Kozhikode and two panchayats in Malappuram.

Onmanorama contacted WPI state president Razak Paleri and secretary S Irshad for a comment. Both were unavailable.  

The CPM, however, has been silent about the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). In 2020, the CPM had received the support of the SDPI during no-confidence motions and in ensuring power in certain local bodies like Kottangal panchayat in Pathanamthitta and Karavaram panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram.

SDPI state secretary Ansari Enaath said that the SDPI will contest in 1500 seats this time and in 2500 seats, they will either field independent candidates or back parties to suit their interests.