Kerala Assembly Polls 2026: Welfare Party declares support for UDF ahead of elections

The Welfare Party of India (WPI) has declared support for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala.

The political wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind claimed that the Sangh Parivar seeks to maintain a favourable social atmosphere for its progress in the State by keeping the Left in power, and the WPI strived to keep such forces at bay.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, WPI State president Rasak Paleri alleged that the last decade has seen the strengthening of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) political interests in Kerala, along with efforts to fragment society and create communal polarisation through hate campaigns.

According to him, Kerala’s social fabric and the presence of two secular political alliances have been key factors in resisting Sangh Parivar’s influence. However, systematic attempts have been made over the last decade to weaken both forces.

“The Sangh Parivar has tried to disrupt minority unity, instil fear among Hindus about Muslims, and deploy supporters like Vellappally Natesan for such goals. Besides, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has taken positions that indirectly encouraged such activities,” he alleged.

2021 polls

Referring to the 2021 Assembly elections, Mr. Paleri claimed that the BJP’s unusually low vote share contributed to the LDF’s victory and that similar tactics are likely to be repeated in the upcoming elections.

He further alleged that LDF leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, failed to counter misinformation spread by the Sangh Parivar, tolerated hate campaigns, and enabled the growth of communal fear for electoral gains.

Under such circumstances, another term for the LDF could allow the Sangh Parivar greater influence over Kerala’s social landscape, the WPI leader opined.