BJP hopes to gain political traction among Latin community over Munambam land issue

BJP leaders who met the families in Munambam assured that the state leadership of the party will address the issue and will provide all assistance to the families and hence ensure that they continue to hold rights over the land.

BJP leaders including Aparajitha Sarangi, Shaun George meeting the families in Munambam, Kochi

Ernakulam: The BJP, which has always struggled to make political inroads into the coastal belts in Ernakulam and nearby areas where Christian’s mainly from the Latin catholic factions reside is looking to make a come back through the ‘Munambam issue where more than 600 families living in the coastal hamlets are facing threat of losing land ownership after Waqf board has claimed that the land belongs to them and hence approached the court requesting to pass an order issuing directives on this regard to the district administration. Senior BJP leaders including JPC member Aparajitha Sarangi MP, advocate Shaun George, Anoop Antony, senior BJP leader Rajagopal held met the families in the region and have promised to take up the matter with the JPC committee.

BJP leaders who met the families in Munambam assured that the state leadership of the party will address the issue and will provide all assistance to the families and hence ensure that they continue to hold rights over the land.

The Ernakulam BJP leaders have also planned to hold a march towards the state Waqf office in Ernakulam on October 8 raising the issue along with the support of various Christian groups and the families in Munambam – Cherai region.

The BJP has been making strong efforts to reach out to the Latin community in Kerala, especially in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. However, the party had failed to increase its presence even though Christians in other parts of the state, especially in central and south Kerala have been shifting its allegiance towards the saffron party in the recently conclude Loksabha polls.

There are a section among the families in Munambam including the church which believes that the new amendment which is set to be passed in the parliament will help them in regaining the full rights.

“The BJP has been making slow and steady inroads into the Christian community, especially in the central and south Kerala. Issues such as ‘Love Jihad’, the west Asia conflict and the central government’s support for Israel, rubber prices have been resonating with a section of Christian voters. However, the Latin Catholic voters have been always averse towards the saffron party and has been traditionally voting in favour of Congress or the CPM. The BJP is now planning to broaden its base in Kerala and the party’s decision to take up the Munambam issue should be seen in the same lens”, said political commentator, advocate Joy Abraham to News9.

The entry of ‘Janapaksham’ secular and support of right wing Christian groups such as ‘CASA’ have helped the BJP in Ernakulam city, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta areas as many from these outfits have joined the BJP and have been spearheading the party’s campaign in central and south Kerala. However, Latin catholic section which forms a major chunk among the Christian community had always been an uphill task as far as BJP is concerned. BJP, which is planning to increase its tally in south states, especially in Kerala, the Christian vote is highly crucial.

Young leaders such as Anoop Antony, Shaun George, Anil Antony have been in the forefront on the Munambam issue. All these leaders have joined the NDA in the past two years from other political fronts such as the Congress and the Janapaksham secular.

“We had talks with all the stakeholders in the Munambam issue including the Waqf board and we are hoping that a solution will be found very soon. The legal issues in this matter wont hold ground as the new amendment comes into picture as it will hold for all disputes till date. The Waqf board members also wanted an amicable solution in this matter and wanted to resolve the issue”, said Shaun George while speaking to News9.

Meanwhile, both the Congress and the CPM has disassociated themselves from the contentious issue as it has not spoken in public over the matter. Even though Hybi Edan, the Congress MP from Ernakulam has promised to address the matter, neither the party leaders in Ernakulam has offered full support to the fisherman community.

With both the LDF and the UDF opposing the new Waqf amendment, 2024,

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