Backlash sharpens communal debate

A sharp political and editorial confrontation has unfolded after Minister for Culture Saji Cherian’s remarks on communal pol arisation in local body ele ctions triggered a strong re sponse from Samastha and the Muslim League, both of which accused the minister of echoing divisive narratives at a sensitive moment in the state's political calend ar.-

- HD Bureau

Cherian had argued that communal polarisation was evident in parts of northern Kerala, saying that a glance at the names of elected repr esentatives in the Mala pp uram district panchayat and the Kasaragod muni cipality would make the trend ap parent.

The statement, delivered amid intense discussions on voting patterns and identity politics in local governance, quickly drew criticism from minority organisations and political groups, who said it reduced complex electoral outcomes to communal st ereotyping.