:Indian Union Muslim League

{{Infobox Indian political party

|party_name = Indian Union Muslim League

|abbreviation = I. U. M. L.

|party_flag = Flag of the Indian Union Muslim League.svg

|colorcode = {{party color|Indian Union Muslim League}}

|president= K. M. Kader Mohideen

|chairman= Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal

|secretary = P. K. Kunhalikutty

|loksabha_leader = E. T. Muhammed Basheer

|rajyasabha_leader = P. V. Abdul Wahab

|predecessor = AIML

|foundation =

{{Start date|df=yes|1948|03|10}} (First Council)
{{Start date|df=yes|1951|09|01}} (Constitution)

|founder = M. Muhammad Ismail

|headquarters = Quaid-e-Millath Manzil, No. 36, Maraikayar Lebbai Street, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013|archive-date=24 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124034729/http://eci.gov.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|url-status=live}}

|eci=

|alliance =

UDF (Kerala)
SPA (Tamil Nadu)
INDIA (national level)

|loksabha_seats = {{Composition bar|3|543|hex={{party color|Indian Union Muslim League}}}}

|rajyasabha_seats = {{Composition bar|2|245|hex={{party color|Indian Union Muslim League}}}}

|ideology = Islamic modernism{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/atheist-fundamentalists/articleshow/6014430.cms |title=Atheist Fundamentalists |newspaper=The Times of India}}
Liberal conservatism{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-the-leaderless-face-of-anti-caa-agitation-is-it-political-orphanhood-of-muslims/302752 | title=Leaderless Anti-CAA Protests Underscore Muslim Political Orphanhood | date=4 February 2022 }}

|youth = Muslim Youth League (the Youth League)

|students = Muslim Students Federation (M. S. F.)

|women = Muslim Women's League

|labour = Swatantra Thozhilali Union (S. T. U.)

|peasants = Swathanthra Karshaka Sangam (Kerala)

|symbol = File:Indian Election Symbol Lader.svg

| state_seats_name = Kerala Legislative Assembly

|website = {{URL|https://iumlkerala.org}}

|state_seats = {{Composition bar|15|140|hex={{party color|Indian Union Muslim League}}}}

|Political position=Centre{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/atheist-fundamentalists/articleshow/6014430.cms |title=Atheist Fundamentalists |newspaper=The Times of India}} to centre-right{{cite web|title=A coloured scheme of things|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-a-coloured-scheme-of-things/301479}}{{cite book|last1=Mukherjee|last2=Saxena|last3=Mitra|first1=Pampa|first2=Rekha|first3=Subrata|author-link=|date=16 June 2022|title=The 2019 Parliamentary Elections in India Democracy at the Crossroads?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CTZwEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Bharatiya+Lok+Dal%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT78|location=|publisher=Taylor and Francis |page=|isbn=9781000591057|quote="... the Indian Union Muslim League(IUML) in Kerala,... are all, by and large, centre-right political formations"}}|party_logo=Indian Union Muslim Leage logo.jpg}}

Indian Union Muslim League (abbreviated as the IUML or Muslim League) is a political party primarily based in Kerala. It is recognised as a State Party in Kerala by the Election Commission of India.{{cite web|date=31 December 2021|title=List of Political Parties & Symbol MAIN Notification|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/13711-list-of-political-parties-symbol-main-notification-dated23092021/|publisher=Election Commission of India}}

After the Partition of India, the first Council of the Indian segment of the All-India Muslim League was held on 10 March 1948 at the south Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).Wright, T. (1966). The Muslim League in South India since Independence: A Study in Minority Group Political Strategies. The American Political Science Review, 60(3), 579-599. {{JSTOR|1952972}} The party renamed itself as the 'Indian Union Muslim League' and adopted a new constitution on 1 September 1951.

IUML is a major member of the opposition United Democratic Front, the INC-led pre-poll state level alliance in Kerala.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-06 |title=Explained: History of Muslim League in Kerala and India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-history-of-muslim-league-in-kerala-and-india-5660839/ |access-date=2019-08-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN}}James Chiriyankandath (1996) Changing Muslim politics in Kerala: identity, interests and political strategies, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 16:2, 257-271. Whenever the United Democratic Front rules in Kerala, the party leaders are chosen as important Cabinet Ministers. The party has always had a constant, albeit small, presence in the Indian Parliament. The party is a part of the INDIA in national level. The League first gained a ministry (Minister of State for External Affairs) in Indian Government in 2004.{{Cite web |last=Press Trust of India |date=2004-06-19 |title=E. Ahamed: Minister of State for External Affairs |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/e-ahamed-minister-of-state-for-external-affairs/story-iGMKx2dOdWfDPocowq9ltI.html |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200607160300/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/e-ahamed-minister-of-state-for-external-affairs/story-iGMKx2dOdWfDPocowq9ltI.html|archive-date= 7 June 2020|access-date=2020-06-07 |website=Hindustan Times |publication-place=}}

The party currently has five members in Parliament - E. T. Mohammed Basheer, M. P. Abdussamad Samadani and Kani K. Navas in the Lok Sabha and P. V. Abdul Wahab and Adv. Haris Beeran{{cite web | url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/06/18/rajya-sabha-mps-kerala-jose-k-mani-pp-suneer-haris-beeran.html | title=Jose K Mani, P P Suneer, Haris Beeran elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed }} in the Rajya Sabha - and fifteen members in Kerala State Legislative Assembly.

History

File:Muhammad Ismail 1996 stamp of India.jpg on a 1996 stamp of India]]

File:Panakkad_Shihab_Thangal_2010_stamp_of_India.jpg (1936-2009). |256x256px]]

The first Muslim political agency in the region was the Kerala Muslim Majlis formed in 1931. It joined the federal setup of All-India Muslim League later.{{cite news |date=2016-02-14 |title=Indian Union Muslim League looks set now on a conservative course as BJP knocks in Kerala|url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indian-union-muslim-league-looks-set-now-on-a-conservative-course-as-bjp-knocks-in-kerala/articleshow/50976164.cms|access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Economic Times |language=en-IN |last1=Thampi |first1=Praveen S. }}

After the partition of India in 1947, the All-India Muslim League was virtually disbanded. It was succeeded by the Indian segment of the Muslim League in the new Dominion of India (first session on 10 March 1948 and constitution passed on 1 September 1951).{{cite web |date=2019-04-06 |title=Explained: History of Muslim League in Kerala and India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-history-of-muslim-league-in-kerala-and-india-5660839/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412001430/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-history-of-muslim-league-in-kerala-and-india-5660839/ |archive-date=12 April 2020 |access-date=2019-08-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN}} M. Muhammad Ismail, the then President of the Madras unit of the Muslim League was chosen as the Convener of the Indian segment of the party. The Travancore Muslim League (the States' Muslim League) was merged with the Malabar League in November 1956.

Indian Union Muslim League contests General Elections under the Indian Constitution. The party is normally represented by two members in the Indian Lower House (the Lok Sabha). B. Pocker, elected from Malappuram Constituency, was a member of the First Lower House (1952–57) from the Madras Muslim League. The party currently has four members in Parliament.

Apart from Kerala and West Bengal, the League had Legislative Assembly members in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Maharastra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam.{{cite web|title=History of Indian Union Muslim League|url=http://indianunionmuslimleague.in/history-indian-union-muslim-league-iuml#selection-199.0-199.37|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217225317/http://indianunionmuslimleague.in/history-indian-union-muslim-league-iuml#selection-199.0-199.37|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-17|website=Indian Union Muslim League (website)}} In West Bengal, the League had won Assembly seats in the 1970s, and A. K. A. Hassanussaman was a member of the Ajoy Mukherjee cabinet.{{cite web|last=Ameerudheen|first=T. A.|date=2017-05-21|title=Will the Muslim League's decision to go national affect Asaduddin Owaisi plans for his party?|url=https://scroll.in/article/832220/will-the-muslim-leagues-decision-to-go-national-affect-asaduddin-owaisi-plans-for-his-party|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612061603/https://scroll.in/article/832220/will-the-muslim-leagues-decision-to-go-national-affect-asaduddin-owaisi-plans-for-his-party|archive-date=2020-06-12|website=Scroll}}

Indian Union Muslim League first gained a ministry in Kerala Government as part of the Communist Party of India Marxist-led United Front in 1967. The party switched fronts in 1969 and formed an alliance with the Congress in 1976.{{Cite news|last=Menon|first=Girish|date=2016-03-22|title=How the Muslim League is at peace with itself|work=The Hindu|publication-place=Trivandrum|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/kerala2016/kerala-assembly-polls-how-the-muslim-league-is-at-peace-with-itself/article8381995.ece|access-date=13 June 2020|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613054805/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/kerala2016/kerala-assembly-polls-how-the-muslim-league-is-at-peace-with-itself/article8381995.ece|url-status=live}} It later became a chief constituent in a succession of Indian National Congress-led ministries.

= Early years =

First Council of the Indian segment of the Muslim League was held on 10 March 1948 at the south Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).
On 1 September 1951, the 'Indian Union Muslim League' came into being in Madras (constitution was passed).
B. Pocker Sahib, elected from Malappuram Constituency, was a member of the first Lok Sabha (1952–57).
K. M Seethi Sahib served as the Speaker of the Kerala Assembly from 1960 to 1961.{{cite web|year=2007|title=SPEAKERS AND DEPUTY SPEAKERS OF KERALA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY|url=http://niyamasabha.org/codes/Speakers%20&%20Deputy%20Speakers%20Book%20Final.pdf|website=Kerala Legislative Assembly|publisher=Secretariat of the Kerala Legislature|publication-place=Trivandrum|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608071039/http://niyamasabha.org/codes/Speakers%20%26%20Deputy%20Speakers%20Book%20Final.pdf|url-status=live}}

= From the 1960s to the 80s =

The League gained a ministry in Kerala Government in 1967 (C. H. Mohammed Koya and M. P. M. Ahammed Kurikkal).
The League oversaw the creation of the University of Calicut, the second university in Kerala, in 1968.
Contribution to local government - the League oversaw the creation of Malappuram District in 1969.
Death of M. Muhammad Ismail (1972) and Bafaqy Thangal (1973).{{Cite journal|last=Wright|date=1948-06-23|title=Muslims and the 1977 Indian Elections: A Watershed?|url=https://online.ucpress.edu/as/article/17/12/1207/21233/Muslims-and-the-1977-Indian-Elections-A-Watershed|journal=Asian Survey|language=en|volume=17|issue=12|pages=1207–1220|doi=10.2307/2643422|jstor=2643422|issn=0004-4687|access-date=13 June 2020|archive-date=13 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613063204/https://online.ucpress.edu/as/article/17/12/1207/21233/Muslims-and-the-1977-Indian-Elections-A-Watershed|url-status=live}} Syed Ummer Bafaqy Thangal rebels against the leadership.

= With the Congress Party =

Muslim League formed an alliance with the Congress in 1976.
C. H. Mohammed Koya served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 12 October to 1 December 1979.[https://web.archive.org/web/20051219145038/http://www.keralacm.gov.in/mohammed.html Chief Minister of Kerala (Official Website)]
Muslim League joined the Congress (Indira)-lead United Democratic Front in 1979/80.
The 'rebel' Muslim League formed 'All India Muslim League' and joined the Left Front in 1980.{{cite web|last=Radhakrishnan|first=M. G.|date=2019-04-19|title=Revenge of the Dead Horse|url=https://www.asianetnews.com/magazine/column/godaykku-pinnil-election-analysis-mg-radhakrishnan-on-muslim-league-ppn7te|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615084904/https://www.asianetnews.com/magazine/column/godaykku-pinnil-election-analysis-mg-radhakrishnan-on-muslim-league-ppn7te|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-06-15|website=Asianet News|publication-place=Trivandrum}}
C. H. Mohammed Koya and K. Avukaderkutty Naha served as Deputy Chief Ministers of Kerala in the 1980s.

= In the 1990s =

All India Muslim League (AIML) quit the Left Front and merged with the Muslim League in 1985.{{Cite news|last=Pillai|first=Sreedhar|date=1985-08-31|title=Indian Union Muslim League and All India Muslim League merge in Kerala|work=India Today|location=Kerala|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19850831-indian-union-muslim-league-and-all-india-muslim-league-merge-in-kerala-801918-2014-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613062836/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19850831-indian-union-muslim-league-and-all-india-muslim-league-merge-in-kerala-801918-2014-01-03|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-06-13}}
Demolition of the Babri Masjid (1992). Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal made a passionate plea to all the Muslims in Kerala to remain calm.{{Cite news|last=IANS|date=2009-08-02|title=Kerala mourns passing away of Panakkad Thangal|work=Gulf News|publication-place=Malappuram|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/kerala-mourns-passing-away-of-panakkad-thangal-1.533879|access-date=12 June 2020|archive-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612131843/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/kerala-mourns-passing-away-of-panakkad-thangal-1.533879|url-status=live}} Kerala remained peaceful throughout.{{cite web|last=Nair|first=Preetha|date=2019-04-19|title=A Coloured Scheme of Things|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-a-coloured-scheme-of-things/301479|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617102953/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-a-coloured-scheme-of-things/301479|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-06-17|website=Outlook}}
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait, then National President, rebelled and formed the Indian National League (INL) in 1994.{{Cite news|last=Madampat|first=Shajahan|date=2019-04-11|title=The importance of IUML|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indian-union-muslim-league-yogi-rahul-gandhi-wayanad-elections-2019-5669399/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612120000/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indian-union-muslim-league-yogi-rahul-gandhi-wayanad-elections-2019-5669399/|archive-date=2020-06-12}}
Minister of Education (E. T. Mohammad Basheer) decided to establish the University of Sanskrit (1993) in Kerala.{{cite web|url=https://ssus.ac.in/index.php/component/sppagebuilder/306-university-at-a-glance|title = University at a Glance}}

= From the 2000s =

Atal Bihari Vajpayee dispatched E. Ahamed to the United Nations (Geneva) to represent India (2004).
Mid-2000s witnessed the Manjeri (2004) and the Kuttippuram-Mankada (2006) defeats.{{cite web|last=Naha|first=Abdul Latheef|date=2014-03-25|title=Muslim votes not a monolithic bloc|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/muslim-votes-not-a-monolithic-bloc/article5829659.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606110048/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/muslim-votes-not-a-monolithic-bloc/article5829659.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-06-06|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Hindu|publication-place=Malappuram}}
The League first gained a ministry (E. Ahamed) in Indian Government (Manmohan Singh Ministry) in 2004.{{cite web |date=2004-06-19 |title=E. Ahamed: Minister of State for External Affairs |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/e-ahamed-minister-of-state-for-external-affairs/story-iGMKx2dOdWfDPocowq9ltI.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607160300/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/e-ahamed-minister-of-state-for-external-affairs/story-iGMKx2dOdWfDPocowq9ltI.html |archive-date=2020-06-07 |access-date=2020-06-07 |website=Hindustan Times |agency=Press Trust of India}}
Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal died in 2009.
The League won a record 20 out of the contested 23 seats in the 2011 Assembly Elections.
The League remains in the Opposition for two consecutive terms (2016 and 2021)

= National President of Indian Union Muslim League=

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