BJP's Poonawalla targets Kerala CM pick, calls Congress 'Islamic National Caliphate'
Synopsis
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla did not mince words on Sunday — calling Congress the 'Islamic National Caliphate,' alleging the party handed Kerala's top job to V.D. Satheesan under IUML diktat, and accusing it of opposing a court verdict that favoured Hindus. The remarks signal an aggressive BJP strategy to frame Congress as beholden to minority appeasement heading into future electoral contests.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged on 17 May that Congress chose V.D.
Satheesan as Kerala CM under pressure from the IUML and the Jamaat.
Poonawalla called on Congress to rename itself the 'Islamic National Caliphate,' accusing it of capitulating to the Muslim League.
He alleged Congress showed an 'anti-Hindu' stance by opposing the Bhojshala court verdict, which he said ruled in favour of Hindus.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had accused the BJP of using Bhojshala to stoke a 'Hindu-Muslim divide'; Poonawalla termed Singh's statement a 'remark on the judiciary.' Poonawalla also attacked TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee , saying the party had 'no faith in the Supreme Court .'
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday, 17 May alleged that the Indian National Congress (Congress) chose V.D. Satheesan as Kerala's Chief Minister not on merit but under pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Poonawalla went further, labelling the Congress the 'Islamic National Caliphate' and accusing the party of adopting an anti-Hindu posture across multiple issues.
The Allegation on Kerala's CM Selection
Poonawalla claimed that Congress legislators had preferred a different candidate for the top post, but the Congress High Command in New Delhi overruled that preference. 'We had already said that V.D. Satheesan is not the Chief Minister of the Congress, but was chosen as the first Chief Minister of the Muslim League, because the choice of the Congress MLAs was someone else,' he said. He further alleged that pressure from the IUML and the Jamaat drove the High Command's decision, adding that the League now believes it can 'do anything' with its ally in power in Kerala.
The 'Islamic National Caliphate' Charge
Escalating his rhetoric, Poonawalla called on Congress to formally rename itself the 'Islamic National Caliphate,' arguing the party had 'bowed down' to the Muslim League. The BJP spokesperson stopped short of providing documentary evidence for his claims, which are contested by the Congress. Critics argue such language is designed to polarise voters ahead of upcoming electoral cycles rather than address governance concerns.
Bhojshala Verdict and the Anti-Hindu Allegation
Poonawalla also trained his fire on Congress over the Bhojshala court verdict, which he said had been decided in favour of Hindus. He questioned why Congress appeared 'upset' at the ruling. 'The Congress party has become so anti-Hindu that even when Hindus secure their constitutional rights through the court, the party still opposes it,' he alleged. Notably, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier accused the BJP of exploiting the Bhojshala issue to engineer a 'Hindu-Muslim divide' — a charge Poonawalla dismissed, saying Singh's statement amounted to 'a remark on the judiciary.'
Attack on Trinamool Congress
In a separate broadside, Poonawalla targeted All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee, who had accused the BJP-led Centre of deploying central agencies against the TMC. Poonawalla responded: 'He himself is a lawyer but still doesn't have faith in the Supreme Court. TMC is 'The Mazaak of Constitution' who refused to accept defeat after the Assembly poll results.' The remarks reflect the BJP's broader offensive against opposition parties ahead of state-level political contests.
What Comes Next
The Congress has not issued a formal point-by-point rebuttal to Poonawalla's latest allegations as of Sunday evening. With the Kerala government newly formed and the Bhojshala case continuing to reverberate politically, the BJP's messaging is expected to intensify as both parties position themselves for the next round of electoral battles.
Point of View
Accountability journalism — and the voter — loses.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla allege about Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan?
Poonawalla alleged that the Congress High Command selected V.D. Satheesan as Kerala's Chief Minister not based on the preference of Congress MLAs but under pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Jamaat. He claimed Congress legislators had preferred a different candidate for the post.
Why did Poonawalla call Congress the 'Islamic National Caliphate'?
Poonawalla used the term to allege that Congress had surrendered its decision-making to the Muslim League, arguing the party had 'bowed down' to IUML demands. He called on Congress to formally rename itself the 'Islamic National Caliphate,' framing it as an anti-Hindu organisation.
What is the Bhojshala controversy that Poonawalla referenced?
The Bhojshala case involves a disputed site in Madhya Pradesh claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. A court verdict was recently delivered, which Poonawalla characterised as a ruling in favour of Hindus. He alleged Congress opposed the verdict, citing it as evidence of the party's anti-Hindu stance.
What did Digvijaya Singh say about Bhojshala, and how did Poonawalla respond?
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP of exploiting the Bhojshala issue to provoke a 'Hindu-Muslim divide.' Poonawalla rejected this, calling Singh's statement a 'remark on the judiciary' and alleging it reflected Congress's broader anti-Hindu posture.
Why did Poonawalla attack TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee?
Kalyan Banerjee had accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing central agencies against the Trinamool Congress. Poonawalla responded by saying Banerjee, despite being a lawyer, had no faith in the Supreme Court, and called the TMC 'The Mazaak of Constitution' for refusing to accept Assembly poll results.
