Malappuram, 22 March (H.S.):In a notable political development ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, former Koduvally MLA Karat Razack formally rejoined the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Sunday, signalling a potential shift in the political dynamics of the region.

Razack reached the Panakkad residence early in the morning, where he was welcomed back into the party by IUML State President Sayed Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal. The re-induction marks his return to the party after years of estrangement, during which he had aligned with the Left Democratic Front (LDF). As part of his move, Razack is expected to step down from his position as Chairman of the Kerala Madrassa Teachers Welfare Fund Board, a post he held under the LDF government.

Welcoming him back, Thangal remarked that Razack’s political journey had come full circle. He noted that Razack had exited the party during an election season and has now chosen a similar moment to return, expressing confidence that his re-entry would strengthen the IUML’s base.

Speaking to the media prior to his induction, Razack pointed to growing dissatisfaction within the ruling front as a key reason for his decision. He highlighted what he described as a widening disconnect between leadership and grassroots workers, adding that even senior leaders and former elected representatives were not being adequately engaged by the current dispensation.

Razack’s political trajectory has been closely tied to the Koduvally constituency. After being denied an IUML ticket in 2011 and 2016, he contested as an LDF-backed Independent and secured a narrow victory, defeating the IUML’s official candidate by 573 votes. His win briefly shifted the constituency away from its traditional IUML stronghold status. However, in the 2021 Assembly elections, IUML reclaimed the seat when Dr M K Muneer defeated Razack.

His return is expected to have implications for electoral strategies in Malabar as parties gear up for a closely fought contest.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman