CHENNAI:What promised to bring hope and a whiff of fresh air into Muslim politics in the Dravidian land, appears to be withering away. Caught in internal squabbles and ego clash, the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), which emerged as the major political force of Muslims, pushing to the background parties like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), stands virtually split months ahead of the 2016 Assembly elections.
Coming at a time when the political situation is fluid and the Opposition in complete disarray in the state, it might pave the way for the Muslim voters gravitate towards mainstream parties. For, the MMK is hurtling down the path of its predecessors.
Raising the banner of revolt against the party patriarch and legislator prof M H Jawahirullah are the ‘young turks’ led by the articulate general secretary Thameemun Ansari. In a way, it is a fight for the finish between the guru and his sishya. For, Ansari had been a student of Jawahirullah in college and was groomed by him in politics. The party which tempered the post-Ayodhya radicalism in the community by spearheading a welfare agenda, has now come a full circle.
“Muslims, concentrated in certain pockets, account for roughly 6 per cent of the state’s population and play a decisive role in the electoral outcome in over 30 assembly constituencies while holding the key in another 30,” says psephologist P Ramajayam with the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Bharathidasan University. The launch of the radical Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) in 1995, witnessed a major change in the voting pattern of the community. A precursor of the MMK, it helped consolidate identity politics but desisted from contesting elections. Yet, held sway over the community. The MMK was formed in 2009 following a clamour for the TMMK to enter the electoral arena and the DMK and AIADMK vied with each other to have an alliance with it to reap electoral dividends.
What provoked the Ansari camp was the unilateral decision of Jawahirullah to walk out of the Left-sponsored People’s Welfare Front, comprising the MDMK of Vaiko and the dalit party VCK of Thol Thirumavalavan. Further, his open assertion that the party was not averse to align with the ruling AIADMK had only compounded the simmering discontent. “Though not holding any office, Jawahirullah was acting as if MMK is a one-man party. Despite being told, he was not amenable to change. He convened a general council recently and elected himself as president besides expelling us,” said Ansari, claiming support of a majority in the general council. In an obvious show of strength, he is planning to hold a huge public meeting in the city on Sunday.
Guided by pragmatism, Jawahirullah maintains that ensuring representation for the community in the legislature and parliament was very vital. As a constituent of the DMK-led front, the MMK had a bitter experience in the last LS poll with local satraps campaigning against the allies and the DMK leadership looking the other way. Jawahirullah was defeated in Mayiladuthurai. “We should be in a winning combine while taking care to keep the BJP at bay,” he says. But, this failed to cut any ice with the rebels.
Though Jawahirullah dismisses the ‘split’ as the tantrums of a few disgruntled and misguided elements, political observer Peer Mohammed says, “The MMK can no more be a force it was. Ansari too has pockets of influence and his radical image has some sway among the youth in the community. The split is a set back to the party and it would have its reflection in the bargaining for seats with other parties.” Also, he does not rule out the possibility of the DMK’s hand in the split which is shared by others.
Since attempts at a rapprochement have failed, the split has only weakened the MMK, leaving a void. Whether this would be occupied by ultra radical elements or the mainstream parties remains to be seen.
The Teacher and his Student
Prof M H Jawahirullah
A soft-spoken pragmatist and the face of the MMK, Jawahirullah was prominent among those instrumental in keeping radicalism under check in the post-Ayodhya phase. He has helped detenus, including those of the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case. As a legislator he had paid encomiums on Jayalalitha in the Assembly indicating that his preference for alliance was the AIADMK and he has made in clear. He had bitter experience in the DMK-front. He is a moderate. He does not consider the Left-sponsored People’s Welfare Front as an electoral option. Lays emphasis on getting more representation for the community in legislature and Parliament.
Thameemum Ansari
Young and energetic, Ansari is the General Secretary of MMK. Peeved at being overshadowed by Jawahirullah, whom he considers as status-quoist. There are charges of him playing into the hands of the DMK. He charges Jawahirullah as authoritarian. He has support in the Cauvery delta region, especially among the community youth. Very articulate, he retains the radical and militant image.