A day after the chief of the women's wing of a prominent political party in Kerala made "encouraging" statements about a rival political party, the woman leader was sacked from her post on Saturday.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)'s women's cell Vanitha League state president Kamarunnisa Anwar, had on Friday, contributed Rs 2000 to Bharatiya Janata Party's state fund and remarked that the right wing party was a growing party in Kerala and outside the state. Party General Secretary KPA Majeed confirmed to The News Minute that Kamarunnisa has been removed from her post.
"I am glad that I could contribute in whatever way possible. I understand that BJP is a party that is growing at a tremendous pace in Kerala and outside. I wish them all luck to do everything possible for the development of our people and the state," she told reporters after handing over the money to BJP's Tirur constituency president KP Pradeep Kumar.
Hours after this move, it was reported that the male leaders of IUML had expressed their displeasure at Kamarunnisa's action. Senior leader PK Kunhalikutty had also observed that it was a serious issue. However, after her gesture ruffled features within the party, Kamarunnisa had reportedly expressed "regret" over what she had done. According to regional media reports, she apologized to party's State president Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal in writing, claiming it to be a "slip of her tongue."
She added that she had not consciously made the statement and that she would abstain from making such statements in the future. IUML's state general secretary KPA Majeed was given the responsibility to look into the matter.
Following this, there were reports that the party has decided against taking action against Kamarunnisa. However, what seem to have changed the party leadership's mind is a complaint received by Thangal late on Friday evening. The complaint said that even after claiming that the pro-BJP statements was a "slip of her tongue," Kamarunnisa hadn't refuted the statement.
IUML's Vanitha League Vice President KP Mariamma has been appointed as the new state president.
Kamarunnisa has even in the past spoken against the explicit display of patriarchy within the Muslim League, even taking on the party leadership for not giving an opportunity to women members to contest the assembly election. However, ever since this, she has been careful not to publicly take on the party leadership.
TNM was unable to reach out to Kamarunnisa, as her mobile phone has been switched off since Friday.