April 5, New Delhi: In a significant political development in Kerala, 50 residents from the coastal village of Munambam—the epicenter of an ongoing land dispute involving the State Waqf Board joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just hours after the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament.
The move is seen as a major boost for the BJP in a region where the Congress and CPI(M) have traditionally held sway.
Background: The Munambam Land Dispute
For over 174 days, around 600 families, predominantly Christians, have been protesting against the Waqf Board’s claim to nearly 400 acres of land in Munambam. The residents say they have been living on this land for generations and were shocked when the board staked legal claim over it, igniting widespread anger and protest.
This land issue has become a flashpoint in Kerala’s political discourse, bringing together concerns over land rights, minority representation, and party loyalties.
BJP Seizes the Moment
On the day the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed, BJP leaders, including state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, visited Munambam and expressed solidarity with the local protesters. He described the day as historic and praised the agitation for drawing national attention.
“This movement gave strength to the Prime Minister and Parliament to pass the Bill. The people of Munambam have been betrayed by the very MPs and MLAs they voted for. But your voice has reached Parliament, and this is a shining example of Indian democracy,” Chandrasekhar told the gathering.
He added that the BJP would stand by the villagers until they regain revenue rights over their land a promise that appears to have resonated with many.
Shifting Political Loyalties
According to Joseph Benny, the convener of the protest action committee, the 50 individuals who joined the BJP were formerly aligned with either the Congress or the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The development reflects growing disillusionment among locals towards mainstream parties, particularly after MPs from both the UDF and LDF voted against the Waqf Amendment Bill—a move seen by many in Munambam as a betrayal of their interests.
Catholic Church Media Slams Congress, Left
In a sharp editorial, Deepika, a prominent Malayalam daily linked to the Catholic Church, criticized the Congress and CPI(M) for ignoring the Church’s demand to amend what it called “anti-people” provisions in the Waqf Act. The paper accused both parties of spreading fear among Christians by highlighting incidents of violence against minorities by right-wing groups in North India and Manipur—an attempt, it said, to distract from their own inaction on the Munambam issue.
The Bigger Political Picture
The land dispute falls under the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency, currently represented by Congress MP Hibi Eden, and the Vypen Assembly seat, held by CPI(M) legislator K. N. Unnikrishnan. Despite recent expressions of support from both parties, critics point out that neither the UDF nor the LDF took an active role in the protests during their early stages. It was only after the BJP began engaging with the community that the mainstream parties stepped in.
Now, the BJP is projecting itself as the only party willing to fight for the cause of Munambam residents, while portraying the Congress and CPI(M) as parties more interested in appeasing Muslim vote banks.
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