Appointment of Dalit-women leaders sheds IUML's communal, discriminatory image

Jayanthi Rajan, along with Fathima Muzaffar from Tamil Nadu, became the first ever women leaders to enter the national committee of the IUML. The two were made national assistant secretaries at the national council meeting held in Chennai on Thursday.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Union Muslim League gave an answer to the naysayers by elevating a dalit woman leader from Wayanad in Kerala as their national assistant secretary. Earlierm many criticised the party over its stance on gender discrimination and communal agendas.

Jayanthi Rajan, along with Fathima Muzaffar from Tamil Nadu, became the first women leaders to enter the national committee of the IUML. The two were made national assistant secretaries at the national council meeting held in Chennai on Thursday.

A native of Irulam in Wayanad, Jayanthi can be considered as IUML's secular face as the party is often framed as a communal party by its opponents.

"It is a misunderstanding that IUML is a communal party. It is a party that caters to weaker sections irrespective of any caste or religion. Its members include people from all religions, including upper caste Hindu-Nairs," Rajan told DH.

Rajan, who hailed from a traditional Congress party, said that she got attracted to IUML owing to the party's focus on charity works. "I have been associated with IUML's charity activities since 2008 and I formally took party membership in 2010. The party has carried out a host of charity activities. Construction of a township with 105 homes for those hit by the Wayanad landslide is now progressing," she said.

Rajan, who is now 46, said that she never felt any sort of discrimination towards women by the party. All women who come forward to work for the party are given due consideration. Even half of the members of the party are women, says Rajan who has been serving as national secretary of Vanitha league since 2015.

She had won the 2010 local body election as member of Puthadi panchayat in Wayanad in 2010 and hence also served as standing committee chairperson of the Panamaram block panchayat.