Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Friday, 17 July, accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of striking a political deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by agreeing to implement the Centre's new Waqf guidelines — including the controversial induction of non-Muslims into the Kerala Waqf Board. Vijayan made the allegations while addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram, calling the move a betrayal of the minority community.

The Reversal at the Heart of the Controversy

Vijayan charged that the Satheesan government had completely reversed its earlier position by informing the Kerala High Court that it would abide by the provisions of the Unified Waqf Act framed by the Centre. He noted that this submission was made by the Muslim League's nominee serving as Special Pleader and was backed by the Advocate General — a combination he described as particularly telling.

This stands in sharp contrast to the stance taken during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, which had strongly opposed the Centre's amendments to the Waqf Act. According to Vijayan, the Kerala Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution in October 2024 defending minority rights and rejecting the Centre's move. At the time, even senior Indian National Congress (Congress) leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K.C. Venugopal had publicly expressed concern over the proposed changes.

Non-Muslim Induction and the Quorum Question

The Kerala Waqf Board currently has 11 nominated members. During the LDF government's tenure, nine members were appointed; the remaining two posts were left vacant pending the Supreme Court's ruling on petitions challenging the amended law. Vijayan pointed out that the Board requires only five members to constitute a quorum, making the vacancies non-urgent in his view.

He alleged that the present government was nonetheless pressing ahead with the appointment of two non-Muslim members — a move he described as aligned with the Sangh Parivar's objective of undermining Muslim community rights. Notably, one of the petitioners seeking such appointments is BJP State Vice-President Shone George, a detail Vijayan cited as evidence of a deeper political understanding between the UDF and the BJP.

What Vijayan Said

'Today it is the Waqf Board. Tomorrow similar guidelines could be imposed on institutions belonging to other religious communities,' Vijayan warned. He also said the Congress had 'completely bowed before the Centre,' whereas the Left had taken what he called a 'firm and principled stand.' He described the government's position as shameful and said a strong campaign against the UDF's alleged double standards on the Waqf issue would follow.

Broader Context: States That Pushed Back

When the Centre introduced the Waqf amendments, several non-BJP-ruled states — including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal — had strongly objected. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF constituent, had also opposed the amendments at that stage. Critics argue the current government's about-face undermines that collective resistance and hands the Centre a political win without a legal fight.

The matter remains before the Supreme Court, and the government's position in the High Court could influence the broader judicial trajectory of the Waqf amendment challenge. How the Satheesan administration responds to the mounting opposition pressure will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.