Kozhikode, 04 May (H.S.): In a landmark moment for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Advocate Fathima Thahliya has etched her name in history by becoming the party’s first woman Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). She secured a remarkable victory from the Perambra constituency, a long-standing stronghold of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), in what is being described as one of the biggest upsets of the Kerala Assembly elections.

Thahliya defeated senior CPI(M) leader and former minister T.P. Ramakrishnan, the sitting MLA, by a margin of 5,087 votes. She polled 81,429 votes against Ramakrishnan’s 76,342, marking a decisive win in a constituency that has rarely slipped from Left control. Her victory is particularly significant given Perambra’s electoral history, where the CPI(M) has dominated consistently since 1980, barring only two exceptions since the constituency was formed.

Her candidature itself had drawn considerable attention, as it came at a time when the IUML was facing criticism over the lack of representation for women within the party. Thahliya’s selection was seen as a response to these concerns, and her victory now adds weight to calls for greater inclusion of women in leadership roles within the party.

Before entering the Assembly race, Thahliya had built her political career at the grassroots level. She was elected as a councillor from Kuttichira in the local body elections, gaining recognition for her active public engagement and organisational work.

Her win in Perambra not only breaks a long-standing political pattern but also signals a potential shift in voter sentiment in traditional Left bastions. More importantly, it marks a milestone for gender representation in the IUML, setting a precedent for future electoral politics in Kerala.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman