The elevation of Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal as the new State president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has come at a crucial juncture when the party is battling several issues in its chequered history without power at the Centre and in the State.
His de facto innings as the leader for a short span in the absence of his ailing brother Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, who passed away on Sunday, demonstrated his pragmatism of a competent and well-organised leader.
Now as the de jure leader, the 58-year-old scion of the Panakkad family has his work cut out to balance his political and religious leaderships as was artfully managed by his predecessors and elder brothers Hyderali Thangal and Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal, both revered by his contemporaries.
Priority
Probably his first job will be to set things right between the IUML and the section of the party-backed Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema leaders.
The disagreement between the political entity and the Sunni religious body has been simmering for years and eventually boiled over in public sphere after the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s decision on Waqf Board appointments.
Further, he would have to be inducted into the Mushwara (supreme body) of the Samastha to become its vice president, a post held by Hyderali Shihab Thangal.
Known for his strong anti-CPI(M) stance, Sadiqali Thangal would have to tread cautiously in taking political decisions particularly when Islamic fundamentalism is getting a foothold in the State.
Courting controversy
Incidentally, his article on Hagia Sophia in Chandrika, the organ of the IUML, in 2020 had drawn flak for its anti-Christian sentiments
The Thangal had said that Christian religious leaders had not staked claim on the ownership of Hagia Sophia as they might have realised that such a demand would not have historical validity. This he mentioned while disagreeing with the decision on the conversion of the structure which was preserved as a museum during the time of Kamal Pasha.
CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had then said that the article reflected the ideology of Jamaát-e-Islami. Later the Thangal had to clarify that the CPI(M) had misinterpreted his article to turn the Christian community against the United Democratic Front.
Next on his agenda will be to reorganise the party apparatus, especially in choosing the new State general secretary as well as the Malappuram district president.
Only time will tell whether Sadiqali Thangal will continue the legacy of his brothers in harmoniously blending politics and religion together.
