Kozhikode: Exposing growing discontent within the women’s leadership of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) ahead of the Assembly elections, Noorbina Rasheed, National General Secretary of the Vanitha League (Women's League), resigned from her post on Thursday.

Addressing the media, Noorbina said she had informed the party leadership of her resignation via email. However, she clarified that she is not leaving the party and hopes to continue, though she remains uncertain about her future within the organisation.

Rasheed had contested from Kozhikode South constituency in the 2021 Assembly elections but was defeated by Ahammed Devarkovil of the LDF. She had expected consideration for a candidature this time but was overlooked.

At the press meet, she strongly criticised the party’s candidate in Perambra, Fathima Thahliya. Referring to the controversy involving alleged sexually coloured remarks made by former MSF state president P K Navas in 2021, based on complaints by members of the Haritha collective, Noorbina alleged that Thahliya was linked to the issue and said that if the complaints of Haritha members were genuine, they should have been pursued firmly.

She further claimed that senior leaders, including P K Kunhalikutty, had assured that Thahliya would not be fielded in the election. However, she alleged that Thahliya was given access to the Panakkad Thangal family residence, while she herself was denied such access. Rasheed also said that despite the Vanitha League’s demand not to field Thahliya, the leadership went ahead with the decision.

“Don’t we have our own values? We cannot accept a situation where the Panakkad family is portrayed negatively. We had expressed our disagreement from the beginning,” she said, adding that the Thangal family holds a special place among party workers.

Rasheed also raised serious concerns over what she termed “artificial secularism” within the party, alleging that a non-Muslim was appointed to a national leadership position instead of a Vanitha League representative. She demanded that the leadership clarify the reasons behind sidelining women leaders.

She further alleged that cyber groups within the party were being used against Vanitha League members.

Rasheed also questioned the role of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, referring to an earlier incident where she and others were allegedly removed from a venue. She criticised the party’s decision to deny an Assembly seat to senior leader M K Muneer, calling it unjust.