In Kerala, the Indian National Congress is facing a potential dilemma as the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JEIH), the Solidarity Youth Movement, is set to launch a campaign to promote the ideals of Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi, the founder of the organization. This move comes shortly after a perceived endorsement of JEIH by a prominent Congress leader, adding complexity to the political landscape in the state.

The Malappuram district committee of Solidarity is organizing a debate on 'Sayyid Maududi and Sheikh Qaradawi: Islamic political thought and development'. Maududi was known for his propagation of political Islam and theocratic nationalism. Yousaf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian Islamic scholar, is considered closely aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood.

JEIH has recently been associated with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and has supported the front in past elections. The political wing of JEIH, the Welfare Party, is also known to have a cordial relationship with Congress. With upcoming local body and assembly elections, this campaign has put Congress in a difficult position, especially as they are reportedly losing support from influential Hindu groups like the NSS and the SNDP, who accuse the party of minority appeasement.

The Congress party is walking a tightrope, trying to maintain its secular image while not alienating minority groups. However, aligning with organizations like JEIH, which have been accused of holding radical views, could further erode their support base among the majority community. The BJP has already accused Congress of "opportunistic politics" and attempting to bring JEIH into mainstream politics. They point to the open support Congress accepted from JEIH during the recent Nilambur Assembly by-election as evidence of this.

Adding to the complexity, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key player in the UDF, is closely monitoring Jamaat's moves. The Left has accused the League of supporting Jamaat's extremist views and helping them grow. However, IUML general secretary PMA Salam stated that the League has no connection with Jamaat-e-Islami and does not subscribe to Maududism.

JEIH leadership believes that a public debate on its founder's ideals could increase its bargaining power with the UDF in the upcoming elections. Some political analysts suggest that JEIH aims to become the primary voice for Muslims in Kerala, potentially threatening the IUML's dominance.

Previously, Congress leaders had considered Jamaat-e-Islami a dangerous organization. Even the late Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had spoken against it. However, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Kerala BJP president, alleges that Congress is now aligning with the organization for opportunistic reasons, abandoning secularism in favor of votes.

This situation presents a significant challenge for Congress in Kerala. The party must carefully navigate the complexities of coalition politics while addressing concerns about its commitment to secularism and potentially risking further alienation from key Hindu community groups. The upcoming elections will be a test of whether Congress can successfully manage these competing pressures.