Indian Union Muslim League
Abbreviation IUML
President K. M. Kader Mohideen
Chairman Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal
General Secretary P. K. Kunhalikutty
Rajya Sabha Leader P. V. Abdul Wahab
Lok Sabha Leader E. T. Muhammed Basheer
Founder M. Muhammad Ismail
Founded
  • 10 March 1948 (1948-03-10) (First Council)
  • 1 September 1951 (1951-09-01) (Constitution)
Preceded by AIML
Headquarters Quaid-e-Millath Manzil, No. 36, Maraikayar Lebbai Street, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.[1]
Student wing Muslim Students Federation (msf)
Youth wing Muslim Youth League (Youth League)
Women's wing Muslim Women's League
Labour wing Swatantra Thozhilali Union (STU)
Peasant's wing Swathanthra Karshaka Sangam (SKS)
Ideology Islamic democracy[2]
Liberal conservatism[3]
Political position Centre-right[2] to right-wing[4][5]
Alliance UDF (Kerala)
SPA (Tamil Nadu)
INDIA (national level)
Seats in Rajya Sabha
2 / 245
Seats in Lok Sabha
3 / 543
Seats in State Legislative Assemblies
24 / 4,036
List
22 / 140
(Kerala)
2 / 234
(Tamil Nadu)
Number of states and union territories in government
1 / 31
Election symbol
IUML Election Symbol
Party flag
Website
iumlkerala.org
  • Politics of India
  • Political parties
  • Elections

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), or simply the Muslim League, is a Muslim political party based in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.[6]

After the Partition of India, the first Council of the Indian segment of the All-India Muslim League was held on 10 March 1948 at the south Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).[7] The party renamed itself as the 'Indian Union Muslim League' and adopted a new constitution on 1 September 1951.[7]

IUML is a major member of the opposition United Democratic Front, the INC-led pre-poll state level alliance in Kerala.[8][9] Whenever the United Democratic Front rules in Kerala, the party leaders are chosen as important Cabinet Ministers. The party has always had a constant, albeit small, presence in the Indian Parliament.[8] The party is a part of the INDIA in national level.[8] The League first gained a ministry (Minister of State for External Affairs) in Indian Government in 2004.[10]

The party currently has five members in Parliament – E. T. Mohammed Basheer, M. P. Abdussamad Samadani and Kani K. Navas in the Lok Sabha and P. V. Abdul Wahab and Adv. Haris Beeran[11] in the Rajya Sabha – and fifteen members in Kerala State Legislative Assembly.

History

Muhammad Ismail Sahib on a 1996 stamp of India
A postage stamp released in commemoration of Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal (1936-2009).

The first Muslim political agency in the region was the Kerala Muslim Majlis formed in 1931. It joined the federal setup of All-India Muslim League later.[12]

After the partition of India in 1947, the All-India Muslim League was virtually disbanded. It was succeeded by the Indian segment of the Muslim League in the new Dominion of India (first session on 10 March 1948 and constitution passed on 1 September 1951).[13] M. Muhammad Ismail, the then President of the Madras unit of the Muslim League was chosen as the Convener of the Indian segment of the party.[7] The Travancore Muslim League (the States' Muslim League) was merged with the Malabar League in November 1956.[7]

Indian Union Muslim League contests General Elections under the Indian Constitution.[13] The party is normally represented by two members in the Indian Lower House (the Lok Sabha).[13] B. Pocker, elected from Malappuram Constituency, was a member of the First Lower House (1952–57) from the Madras Muslim League.[13] The party currently has four members in Parliament.

Apart from Kerala and West Bengal, the League had Legislative Assembly members in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Maharastra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam.[14] In West Bengal, the League had won Assembly seats in the 1970s, and A. K. A. Hassanussaman was a member of the Ajoy Mukherjee cabinet.[15]

Indian Union Muslim League first gained a ministry in Kerala Government as part of the Communist Party of India Marxist-led United Front in 1967. The party switched fronts in 1969 and formed an alliance with the Congress in 1976.[16][9] It later became a chief constituent in a succession of Indian National Congress-led ministries.[9]

Early years

  • First Council of the Indian segment of the Muslim League was held on 10 March 1948 at the south Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).[7]
  • On 1 September 1951, the 'Indian Union Muslim League' came into being in Madras (constitution was passed).[7]
  • B. Pocker Sahib, elected from Malappuram Constituency, was a member of the first Lok Sabha (1952–57).[13]
  • K. M Seethi Sahib served as the Speaker of the Kerala Assembly from 1960 to 1961.[17]

From the 1960s to the 80s

  • The League gained a ministry in Kerala Government in 1967 (C. H. Mohammed Koya and M. P. M. Ahammed Kurikkal).[9]
  • The League oversaw the creation of the University of Calicut, the second university in Kerala, in 1968.[9]
  • Contribution to local government – the League oversaw the creation of Malappuram District in 1969.[9]
  • Death of M. Muhammad Ismail (1972) and Bafaqy Thangal (1973).[18] Syed Ummer Bafaqy Thangal rebels against the leadership.[18]

With the Congress Party

  • Muslim League formed an alliance with the Congress in 1976.[16]
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 12 October to 1 December 1979.[19]
  • Muslim League joined the Congress (Indira)-lead United Democratic Front in 1979/80.
  • The 'rebel' Muslim League formed 'All India Muslim League' and joined the Left Front in 1980.[18][20]
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya and K. Avukaderkutty Naha served as Deputy Chief Ministers of Kerala in the 1980s.[19]

In the 1990s

  • All India Muslim League (AIML) quit the Left Front and merged with the Muslim League in 1985.[21]
  • Demolition of the Babri Masjid (1992). Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal made a passionate plea to all the Muslims in Kerala to remain calm.[22] Kerala remained peaceful throughout.[23]
  • Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait, then National President, rebelled and formed the Indian National League (INL) in 1994.[24]
  • Minister of Education (E. T. Mohammad Basheer) decided to establish the University of Sanskrit (1993) in Kerala.[24][25]

From the 2000s

  • Atal Bihari Vajpayee dispatched E. Ahamed to the United Nations (Geneva) to represent India (2004).[24][23]
  • Mid-2000s witnessed the Manjeri (2004) and the Kuttippuram-Mankada (2006) defeats.[26]
  • The League first gained a ministry (E. Ahamed) in Indian Government (Manmohan Singh Ministry) in 2004.[27]
  • Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal died in 2009.[22]
  • The League won a record 20 out of the contested 23 seats in the 2011 Assembly Elections.
  • The League remains in the Opposition for two consecutive terms (2016 and 2021)

National President of Indian Union Muslim League

No. Name Portrait Tenure Home State
1 M. Muhammed Ismail 10 March 1948 — 5 April 1972 Tamil Nadu
2 Bafaqy Thangal 1972 — 19 January 1973 Kerala
3 Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait 1973—1994 Karnataka
4 G. M. Banatwala 1994— 25 June 2008 Maharashtra
5 E. Ahamed 25 June 2008 — 1 February 2017 Kerala
6 K. M. Kader Mohideen 27 February 2017 — present Tamil Nadu

Ideology

The [Indian Union Muslim League] party...has shown strands of identity politics, but largely remained communitarian; it has at times been conservative, but never communal. It has furthered Muslim aspirations without antagonising any other segment—and hence has retained its centrality in the larger Kerala polity.

— Outlook[28]

The distinctive feature of the [Indian Union] Muslim League in Kerala is that it strove to keep the [Muslim] community at the centre of the [Kerala] state's politics, unlike other Muslim political formations elsewhere in India that revelled in confessional isolationism. As a result, the Kerala Muslims emerged as probably the only community of that faith in India that achieved genuine political empowerment on the one hand and, on the other, lived out the promise of equal citizenship enshrined in the [Indian] Constitution.

— Outlook[29]

If organising a religious community politically on the basis of antagonism to another is communalism, the IUML has never mobilised its cadre nor used its political and often administrative clout to create religious divides. On the contrary, whenever the state faced a communally sensitive situation, the party rose to the occasion and played a stellar role in dousing the flames....By practicing a brand of politics that could be termed communitarian rather than communal, the IUML succeeded in actualising the constitutional guarantee of equal citizenship for the Muslims in the state.

— The Indian Express[30]

Composition

Designation Name
Chairman- Political Advisory Committee (PAC) Sadiq Ali Thangal (Kerala)
National President K. M. Kader Mohideen (Tamil Nadu)[31]
Vice Presidents Iqbal Ahmed (Uttar Pradesh)
Dastagir Ibrahim Aga (Karnataka)
National General Secretary P. K. Kunhalikutty (Kerala)[32]
National Organising Secretary E. T. Mohammed Basheer (Kerala)
National Treasurer P. V. Abdul Wahab (Kerala)[33]
Secretaries Khorrum Anis Omer (Delhi)
M. P. Abdussamad Samadani (Kerala)
Jayanthi Rajan (Kerala)[34]
S. Naim Akthar (Bihar)
Siraj Ebrahim Sait (Karnataka)
Assistant Secretaries Abdul Basith (Tamil Nadu)
Kausar Hayat Khan (Uttar Pradesh)

Organizational structure

  • Youth Wing: Muslim Youth League (the Youth League) [1]
    • National President: Asif Ansari (New Delhi)
    • National Secretary: Najma Thabsheera (Kerala) [35]
    • National Council Secretary: Faisal Babu (Kerala)[36]
    • National vice President Mufeeda Thesni (Kerala) [35]
    • National Secretary: Ch. Ajrudin Advocate (Haryana)
    • Kerala State President: Sayyid Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal
    • Kerala State secretary: Fathima Thahiliya[35]
    • Kerala State General Secretary: P. K. Firoz
  • Students' Wing: Muslim Students Federation (M. S. F.)
    • National President: P.V. Ahamed Saju
    • National General Secretary: S. H. Muhammed Arshad
  • Scheduled Caste Wing: Indian Union Dalit League
  • Women's Political Wing: Haritha and Muslim Women's League
  • Trade Union Organization (Kerala): Swatantra Thozhilali Union (S.T.U)
  • Peasants' Union (Kerala): Swathanthra Karshaka Sangam (Independent Peasants Union)
  • Advocates: Lawyers Forum
  • Expatriates: Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (K. M. C. C.)

Kerala Legislative Assembly

Source: http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/electionhistory.html Archived 11 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine

Early years (1957–1979/80)

Election Seats Vote% Government/Opposition Ministers Sources
Won (Contested)
1957 8 (19)

As independents

 4.72 Opposition (to Namboodiripad Ministry)

1957–59

 [20][37]
1960 11 (12) 5.0 Increase Government (Pattom Ministry)

1960–62

  • Formally left the coalition in 1961 as an abstaining Opposition.[38]
 Excluded from the Pattom Ministry[38] [38][20][39]
Abstaining Opposition (to Shankar Ministry)[38]

1962–64

 [38]
1965 6 (16) 3.71 Decrease Inconclusive (no government formed)[38] [39][20]
1967 14 (15) 6.75 Increase Government[9] (Namboodiripad Ministry)

1967–69
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya
  • M. P. M. Ahammed Kurikkal (succeeded by K. Avukaderkutty Naha)
 [9][39]
Government (Achutha Menon Ministry)

1969–70
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya
  • K. Avukaderkutty Naha
 [40]
1970 11 (20) 7.7 Increase Government (Achutha Menon Ministry)

1970–77
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya (succeeded by Chakkeeri Ahamed Kutty)
  • K. Avukaderkutty Naha
 [40][41]
1977 13 (16) 6.65 Decrease Government (Karunakaran Ministry)

1977
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya
  • K. Avukaderkutty Naha
 [40][41]
Government (Antony Ministry)

1977–78
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya (replaced in-between by U. A. Beeran)
  • K. Avukaderkutty Naha
Government (PKV Ministry)

1978–79
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya
  • K. Avukaderkutty Naha
Government (Koya Ministry)

1979
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya

With the United Democratic Front (1979/80–present)

Election Seats Vote % Government/Opposition[9] Ministers
Won (Contested)
1980 14 (21) 7.18 Increase Opposition (to Nayanar Ministry)

1980–81
Government (Karunakaran Ministry)

1981–82
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya
1982 14 (18) 6.17 Decrease Government (Karunakaran Ministry)

1982–87
  • C. H. Mohammed Koya (succeeded by K. Avukaderkutty Naha)
  • U. A. Beeran
  • E. Ahamed
1987 15 (23) 7.73 Increase Opposition

(to Nayanar Ministry)

1987–91
1991 19 (22) 7.37 Decrease Government

(Karunakaran Ministry)

1991–95
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty
  • E. T. Mohammad Basheer
  • P. K. K .Bava
  • C.T. Ahammed Ali
Government

(Antony Ministry)

1995–96
  • C. T. Ahammed Ali
  • P. K. K. Bava
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty
  • E. T. Mohammad Basheer
1996 13 (23) 7.19 Decrease Opposition

(to Nayanar Ministry)

1996–2001
2001 16 (21) 7.59 Increase Government

(Antony Ministry)

2001–2004
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty
  • Nalakath Sooppy
  • Cherkalam Abdullah
  • M. K. Muneer
Government

(Chandy Ministry)

2004–2006
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty (replaced by V. K. Ebrahim Kunju)
  • E. T. Mohammad Basheer
  • M. K. Muneer
  • Kutty Ahammed Kutty
2006 7 (21) 7.30 Decrease Opposition

(to Achuthanandan Ministry)

2006–11
2011 20 (23) 7.92 Increase Government

(Chandy Ministry)

2011–16
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty
  • P. K. Abdu Rabb
  • M. K. Muneer
  • V. K. Ebrahim Kunju
  • Manjalamkuzhi Ali
2016 18 (23) 7.40 Decrease Opposition

(to Vijayan Ministry)

2016–2021
2021 15 (25) 8.27 Increase Opposition

(to Vijayan Ministry)

Incumbent

Current members

Map of Kerala showing 2021 Assembly Election Results
Legislative Constituency Member
Kerala
Kasaragod
Manjeshwaram A. K. M. Ashraf
Kasaragod N. A. Nellikkunnu
Kozhikode
Koduvally M. K. Muneer
Malappuram
Kondotty T. V. Ibrahim
Eranad P. K. Basheer
Manjeri U. A. Latheef
Perinthalmanna

Najeeb Kanthapuram
Mankada Manjalamkuzhi Ali
Malappuram P. Ubaidulla
Vengara P. K. Kunhalikutty
Vallikkunnu P. Abdul Hameed
Tirurangadi K. P. A. Majeed
Tirur Kurukkoli Moideen
Kottakkal K. K. Abid Hussain Thangal
Palakkad
Mannarkkad N. Samsudheen

Electoral performance

Loksabha election results in Kerala
Election Year Alliance Seats contested Seats won Total Votes Percentage of votes ± Vote
2024 UDF 2
2 / 20
1,199,839 6.07% Increase 0.59%
2019 UDF 2
2 / 20
1,111,697 5.48% Increase 0.94%
2014 UDF 2
2 / 20
816,226 4.54% Decrease 0.54%
2009 UDF 2
2 / 20
813,741 5.07% Increase 0.21%
2004 UDF 2
1 / 20
733,228 4.86% Decrease 0.44%
1999 UDF 2
2 / 20
810,135 5.30% Increase 0.29%
1998 UDF 2
2 / 20
745,070 5.01% Decrease 0.07%
1996 UDF 2
2 / 20
745,070 5.08% Increase 0.06%
1991 UDF 2
2 / 20
715,222 5.02% Decrease 0.21%
1989 UDF 2
2 / 20
780,322 5.23% Decrease 0.06%
1984 UDF 2
2 / 20
575,754 5.29% Decrease 0.27%
1980 UDF 2
2 / 20
454,235 5.60% Decrease 0.40%
1977 UDF 2
2 / 20
533,726 6.0% Increase 0.38%
1971 Steady 2
2 / 19
366,702 5.62% Decrease 0.98%
1967 Steady 2
2 / 19
413,868 6.6% Increase 2.11%
1962 Steady 3
2 / 18
248,038 4.49% Increase 2.84%
1957 Steady 1
1 / 18
99,777 1.65% New
Kerala Legislative Assembly election results
Election Year Alliance Seats contested Seats won Total Votes Percentage of votes ± Vote
2021 UDF 25
15 / 140
1,723,593 8.27% Increase 0.87%
2016 UDF 23
18 / 140
1,496,864 7.4% Decrease 0.52%
2011 UDF 23
20 / 140
1,383,670 7.92% Increase 0.62%
2006 UDF 21
7 / 140
1,135,098 7.30% Decrease 0.70%
2001 UDF 23
16 / 140
1,259,572 8.00% Increase 0.81%
1996 UDF 22
13 / 140
1,025,556 7.19% Decrease 0.18%
1991 UDF 22
19 / 140
1,044,582 7.37% Decrease 0.36%
1987 UDF 23
15 / 140
985,011 7.73% Increase 1.56%
1982 UDF 18
14 / 140
590,255 6.17% Decrease 1.01%
1980 UDF 21
14 / 140
684,910 7.18% Increase 0.52%
1977 UDF 16
13 / 140
584,642 6.66% Decrease 0.90%
1970 Steady 20
11 / 133
569,220 7.56% Increase 0.81%
1967 Steady 15
14 / 133
424,159 6.75% Increase 2.92%
1965 Steady 16
6 / 133
242,529 3.83% Decrease 1.13%
1960 Steady 12
11 / 126
401,925 4.96% New
1957 Steady 19
8 / 126
4.72% Steady

List of Union Ministers

No. Photo Portfolio Name
(Lifespan)		 Assumed office Left office Duration Constituency
(House)		 Prime Minister
1 Minister of External Affairs
(MoS)		 E. Ahamed
(1938–2017)		 23 May
2004		 22 May
2009		 4 years, 364 days Ponnani
(Lok Sabha)		 Manmohan Singh
Minister of Railways
(MoS)		 28 May
2009		 19 January
2011		 1 year, 236 days Malappuram
(Lok Sabha)
Minister of External Affairs
(MoS)		 19 January
2011		 26 May
2014		 3 years, 127 days
Minister of Human Resource Development
(MoS)		 12 July
2011		 28 October
2012		 1 year, 108 days

Members of Parliament

Lok Sabha Members

Source: Loksabha
Election Lok sabha Member Constituency
1951 1st Lok Sabha B. Pocker Malappuram
1957 2nd Lok Sabha B. Pocker Manjeri
1962 3rd Lok Sabha C. H. Mohammed Koya Kozhikode
M. Muhammad Ismail Manjeri
1967 4th Lok Sabha M. Muhammad Ismail Manjeri
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Kozhikode
S. M. Muhammed Sheriff Ramananthapuram
1971 5th Lok Sabha M. Muhammad Ismail Manjeri
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Kozhikode
S. M. Muhammed Sheriff Periyakulam
Abu Taleb Chowdhury Murshidabad
1977 6th Lok Sabha G. M. Banatwalla Ponnani
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Manjeri
1980 7th Lok Sabha G. M. Banatwalla Ponnani
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Manjeri
A. K. A. Abdul Samad Vellore
1984 8th Lok Sabha G. M. Banatwalla Ponnani
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Manjeri
1989 9th Lok Sabha G. M. Banatwalla Ponnani
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Manjeri
A. K. A. Abdul Samad Vellore
1991 10th Lok Sabha Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait Ponnani
E. Ahamed Manjeri
1996, 1998, 1999 11, 12, 13th Lok Sabha G. M. Banatwalla Ponnani
E. Ahamed Manjeri
2004 14th Lok Sabha E. Ahamed[27] Ponnani
K.M. Kader Mohideen Vellore
2009 15th Lok Sabha E. Ahamed[27] Malappuram
E. T. Mohammed Basheer Ponnani
Abdul Rahman Vellore
2014 16th Lok Sabha E. Ahamed and

P. K. Kunhalikutty

 Malappuram
E. T. Mohammed Basheer Ponnani
2019 17th Lok Sabha P. K. Kunhalikutty and

M. P. Abdussamad Samadani

 Malappuram
E. T. Mohammed Basheer Ponnani
K. Navas Kani Ramananthapuram
2024 18th Lok Sabha E. T. Mohammed Basheer Malappuram
M. P. Abdussamad Samadani Ponnani
K. Navas Kani Ramananthapuram

Rajya Sabha Members

Source: Rajyasabha
State Member Year
Madras M. Muhammad Ismail 1952–58
Tamil Nadu A. K. A. Abdul Samad 1964–70
S. A. Khwaja Mohideen 1968–74
A. K. A. Abdul Samad 1970–76
A. K. Refaye 1972–78
S. A. Khwaja Mohideen 1974–80
Kerala Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait 1960–66
Abdulla Koya 1967–73

1974–98
Hamid Ali Schamnad 1970–79
Abdussamad Samadani 1994–2006
Korambayil Ahammed 1998–03
P. V. Abdul Wahab 2004–10

2015–present
Adv.Haris Beeran 2024–present

List of State Cabinet Ministers

Cabinet Ministers from Indian Union Muslim League in defferent ministries of Kerala[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]
Sl. No. Name Designation Tenure Cabinet Chief Minister Notes
1 P. K. Abdu Rabb Minister for Education 2011–2016 Second Oommen Chandy ministry Oommen Chandy
2 Manjalamkuzhi Ali Minister for Urban Affairs and Minority Welfare 2012–2016 Assumed office on 12th April 2012
3 M. K. Muneer Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayats 2011–2016
4 V. K. Ebrahimkunju Minister for Public Works 2011–2016
5 P. K. Kunhalikutty Minister for Industries, IT, Trade & Commerce, Mining & Geology, Wakf & Haj Affairs 2011–2016 # Minister for Industries and Information Technology (with effect from 12 April 2012 )

Hold the portfolio of urban affairs from 18th May, 2011 to 12 April 2012[51]
1 Kutty Ahammed Kutty Minister for Local Self Government 2004–2006 First Oommen Chandy ministry Oommen Chandy
2 E. T. Muhammed Basheer Minister for Education 2004–2006
3 P. K. Kunhalikutty Minister for Industries and Social Welfare 2004–2005 Assumed office on 31st August, 2004 AN

and resigned on 4th January, 2005
4 M. K. Muneer Minister for Public Works 2004–2006
V. K. Ebrahimkunju Minister for Industries and Social Welfare 2005-2006 Assumed office on 6th January, 2005
1 Chekkalam Abdulla Minister for Local Self Government 2001–2004 Third A. K. Antony ministry A. K. Antony
2 Nalakath Soopy Minister for Education 2001–2004
3 P. K. Kunhalikutty Minister for Industries and Social Welfare 2001–2004 Assumed office on 17th May, 2001
4 M. K. Muneer Minister for Public Works 2001–2004
1 E. T. Muhammed Basheer Minister for Education 1995–1996 Second A. K. Antony ministry A. K. Antony
2 P. K. Kunhalikutty Minister for Industries and Municipalities 1995–1996
3 P. K. K. Bava Minister for Panchayat and Social Welfare 1995–1996
4 C. T. Ahammed Ali Minister for Public Works 1995–1996
1 E. T. Muhammed Basheer Minister for Education 1991–1995 Fourth K. Karunakaran ministry K. Karunakaran
2 P. K. Kunhalikutty Minister for Industries 1991–1995
3 C. T. Ahammed Ali Minister for Local Administration 1991–1995 Assumed office on 29th June, 1991
4 P.K.K Bava Minister for Public Works 1991-1995 Assumed office on 29th June, 1991
01 K. Avukaderkutty Naha Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala 1983–1987 Third K. Karunakaran ministry K. Karunakaran Assumed office on 24 October 1983
02 C. H. Mohammed Koya Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala 1982–1983 Expired on 28 September 1983
01 C. H. Mohammed Koya Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala & Minister for Public Works 1981–1982 Second K. Karunakaran ministry K. Karunakaran
01 C. H. Mohammed Koya Chief Minister of Kerala Oct 1979 –Dec 1979 Koya ministry — The Koya ministry lasted 1 month and 20 days.
01 C. H. Mohammed Koya Minister for Education 1978–1979 P. K. Vasudevan Nair ministry P. K. Vasudevan Nair
02 K. Avukader Kutty Naha Minister for Local Administration 1978–1979 Assumed office on 9 December 1978
01 K. Avukader Kutty Naha Minister for Local Administration 1977-78 First Antony ministry A. K. Antony
02 C. H. Mohammed Koya Minister for Education 1977-78 Resigned w.e.f. 20 December 1977 and again assumed office on 4 October 1978
U. A. Beeran Minister for Education January 1978 - October 1978 Assumed office on 27 January 1978 and resigned w. e. f. 3 October 1978
01 C.H. Mohammed Koya Minister for Education 25 March 1977 - 25 April 1977 First Karunakaran ministry K. Karunakaran
2 K. Avukader Kutty Naha Minister for Local Administration 25 March 1977 - 25 April 1977
01 C. H. Mohammed Koya Minister for Education and Home 1970–1977 Second C. Achutha Menon ministry C. Achutha Menon Resigned w.e.f. 1st March 1973
02 K. Avukader Kutty Naha Minister for Food and Local Administration 1970–1977
03 Chakkeeri Ahamed Kutty Minister for Education 1973-1977 Assumed office on 2nd March, 1973
01 C. H. Mohammed Koya Minister for Home and Education 1969–1970 First C. Achutha Menon ministry C. Achutha Menon
02 K. Avukader Kutty Naha Minister for Local Administration 1969–1970
01 K. Avukader Kutty Naha Minister for Panchayats 1967–1969 E. M. S. Namboodiripad ministery E. M. S. Namboodiripad ** Assumed office on 9th November 1968 and Resigned w. e. f. 21st October 1969
02 M. P. M. Ahammed Kurikkal Minister for Panchayats 1967–1969 ** Expired on 24th October, 1968
03 C. H. Mohammed Koya Minister for Education 1967–1969 ** Resigned w.e.f. 21st October, 1969

Controversies

Women rights

In 2013, the party demanded Muslim women to be excluded from the Child Marriage Act which prescribes 18 as women's legal marital age and 21 for men, in Supreme court stating its contradictory to Muslim Personal laws.[52] Similarly in 2021, the party was against the Union Cabinet's suggestion to change the minimum marriage age of women from 18 to 21 years.[53]

The party when in control of the local self-government department, issued a circular which legalised marriage for Muslim women between ages of 16 and 18 and Muslim men below age 21. The circular was later amended after backlash.[54] In 2021, ten female leaders from the disbanded Haritha state committee lodged a police complaint against the state president of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) and the Malappuram district general secretary, accusing them of making sexual remarks and sexual harrassment charges.[55][56] Following this Fathima Thahiliya, vice-president of MSF, who supported the women leaders was removed from her post.[57]

The Muslim League has opposed the Supreme Court of India verdict regarding entry of adult women to Sabarimala temple.[58][59]

LGBT rights

It is also at odds with several LGBTQ rulings from the Supreme Court.[60] The party also supports the primacy of Muslim Personal Law among Indian Muslims.[61][62]

IUML opposes implementing gender neutrality and comprehensive sex education in school curriculum saying that it promotes homosexuality, leads to sexual anarchy and is part of an atheist-liberal conspiracy to destroy religious values.[63][64][65] In 2022, IUML leader Abdurahiman Randathani made statement that the co-educational schools teach homosexuality and masturbation.[66] In 2023, IUML leader K. M. Shaji made controversial statement that the LGBT members are the 'worst humans'. He made similar statement in 2026 too.[67] Similary in 2023, another IUML leader M.K Muneer made controversial comment on a trans man who gave birth.[66]

Conservatism & Violence

An article by the current president of the Muslim League, on Hagia Sophia,[68] seemed to support the views of political Islam.[69][70]Muslim League generally presents itself as a conservative political party in Kerala.[71][72] The Catholic Church has also criticized the IUML for organizing solidarity programs in support of Hamas, arguing that such actions downplay or obscure the terrorist attacks carried out by the group.[73] A controversy occurred in 2015, when the Islamic symbol of Crescent moon and a star appeared in a Board Exam question paper when IUML's P.K. Abdu Rabb was Kerala's Education minister.The Kerala School Teachers Association (KSTA) alleged that the IUML was exerting influence over the state’s education system.[74]

The party leaders were also involved in the Marad massacre, which involved the killing of 8 Hindu fishermen.[75] Eight party workers were also convicted in 2024 for the killing of a DYFI activist.[76]

In July 2023, following the Manipur violence where a woman was paraded naked in public,[77] members of the Muslim League raised anti Hindu slogans in Kanhangad, located in the Kasaragod district of Kerala. The following day, Kerala Police arrested five of those members.[78][79][80] Upon criticism over the incident, the State President of IUML Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal responded on 28 July, saying no one has the right to hurt the sentiments and faith of others.[81] In 2025, an FIR was filed against IUML leader Basheer Vellikoth for provocative remarks on television on Pahalgam terrorist attack.[82] In 2025, the BJP criticised IUML MP of Navaskani for eating non-veg in the Tiruparankundram temple premises.[83]

Casteism

In 2021, the IUML leaders made casteism remarks on the Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan[84] and his daughter's marriage as 'prostitution'.[85] In 2023, the Kerala Women Commision booked cased against IUML leader K. M. Shaji over his comments on minister Veena George in a speech involving alleged casteist remarks.[86] In 2025, case has been filed against IUML workers for using casteism slurs and conducting "purification ritual" after a Sceduled caste man was relieved from a local government body position.[87]

See also

  • List of political parties in India
  • All-India Muslim League
  • Indian Independence Movement
  • List of Islamic political parties

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