Munambam land dispute: Rajeev Chandrasekhar writes to Rijiju, demands removal of 'illegally listed' Waqf properties from UMEED
Synopsis
Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has formally written to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding removal of over 400 acres of Munambam land from the UMEED portal, alleging the Waqf Board bypassed due process and allowed Farook College — not the legally mandated Mutawalli — to upload the records. With the Waqf Board defending the registration and CM Satheesan offering eviction assurances, the dispute is fast becoming a national political flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on 26 May demanding removal of Munambam properties from the UMEED portal .
He alleged the Kerala State Waqf Board registered more than 400 acres in Munambam without complying with the Waqf Act or UMEED guidelines.
Under existing rules, only the Mutawalli can upload Waqf records; Chandrasekhar alleged the authority was improperly exercised by Farook College .
Waqf Board chairman K S Hamza maintained the land is legitimate Waqf property duly registered on the portal.
Kerala CM VD Satheesan assured residents a day earlier that no evictions would take place, though the BJP has called the assurance insufficient.
Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday, 26 May escalated the Munambam land dispute by writing to Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, demanding that the Centre exercise its supervisory powers to remove properties he described as 'illegally uploaded' from the UMEED portal. The move marks a fresh flashpoint in one of Kerala's most politically charged land controversies in recent years.
What Chandrasekhar Alleged
In his letter to Rijiju, Chandrasekhar claimed that the Kerala State Waqf Board registered more than 400 acres of land in Munambam on the UMEED portal without complying with the provisions of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) framework or the applicable clauses of the Waqf Act. He called it a 'brazen violation' of stipulated guidelines and urged the Centre to act at the earliest.
Chandrasekhar further alleged a procedural breach, stating that under existing law, only the 'Mutawalli' — the designated custodian — is authorised to upload Waqf property records on the portal. In the Munambam case, he alleged, that authority was exercised by Farook College. 'Yet, without following due process, the Waqf Board unilaterally registered the property,' he said in his letter.
The Political Charge
Chandrasekhar also attributed the controversy to what he termed 'vote-bank politics', accusing the United Democratic Front (UDF) of acting under pressure from minority groups. This is part of a broader Kerala BJP offensive against both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and the opposition UDF over the Munambam issue.
Notably, the BJP's escalation comes a day after Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan assured residents affected by the dispute that they would not be evicted from their homes — assurances the BJP has characterised as insufficient.
The Waqf Board's Stand
A day before Chandrasekhar's letter, Kerala State Waqf Board chairman K S Hamza stated that the disputed land at Munambam was a Waqf property and had been duly registered on the UMEED portal, along with other Waqf assets across the state. The Board's position directly contradicts the BJP's claims of procedural violations, setting the stage for a prolonged legal and political battle.
Background and Stakes
The Munambam land dispute has become a deeply sensitive issue in Kerala, with several residents expressing concern over the ownership status of land they have occupied for years. The controversy has sharpened political fault lines, with the Kerala BJP using it to target the LDF government and accuse it of betraying local residents. This is not an isolated incident — disputes over Waqf property registration have surfaced in multiple states since the UMEED portal was rolled out as part of the Waqf Amendment framework.
With the Centre's response to Chandrasekhar's letter now awaited, the dispute is set to draw further national attention in the coming days.
Point of View
However, is a clear legal ruling on whether Farook College had standing to upload the records — without that, both sides are arguing past each other. The Waqf Board's breezy confirmation that the land 'has been registered' sidesteps the procedural question entirely, and that silence could prove costly.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Munambam land dispute about?
The Munambam land dispute centres on more than 400 acres of land in Munambam, Kerala, which the Kerala State Waqf Board has registered as Waqf property on the UMEED portal. Residents of the area have raised concerns about the ownership status of land they have long occupied, fearing potential eviction.
Why did Rajeev Chandrasekhar write to Kiren Rijiju?
Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote to Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on 26 May demanding that the Centre use its supervisory powers to remove the Munambam properties from the UMEED portal. He alleged the Waqf Board violated due process by allowing Farook College — rather than the legally authorised Mutawalli — to upload the property records.
What is the UMEED portal?
UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development. It is a centralised portal under the Waqf Amendment framework where Waqf properties across India are required to be registered, with uploads authorised only by designated custodians called Mutawallis.
What has the Kerala Waqf Board said about the dispute?
Kerala State Waqf Board chairman K S Hamza stated that the disputed Munambam land is a legitimate Waqf property and has been duly registered on the UMEED portal along with other Waqf assets in the state. The Board has not directly addressed the BJP's allegation that Farook College, rather than the Mutawalli, uploaded the records.
Will residents be evicted from Munambam?
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan assured residents on 25 May that those affected by the Munambam land dispute would not be evicted from their homes. However, the BJP has characterised these assurances as insufficient and has continued to press for Central intervention.
