First time in history: Women appointed to Muslim League's national committee

CHENNAI: For the first time in the Indian Union Muslim League’s history, women have been included in the national committee. The newly formed national committee now includes Jayanthi Rajan from Kerala and Fathima Muzaffer from Tamil Nadu as Assistant Secretaries. The decision was taken during the national council meeting held on Thursday in Chennai. This move rectifies the long-standing absence of women in leadership roles in the Muslim League. Earlier, women had been inducted into the national committees of the MSF (Muslim Students Federation) and the Youth League.

Prof. Khader Moideen will continue as the National President, with P.K. Kunhalikutty serving as the General Secretary. P.V. Abdul Wahab has been appointed as Treasurer. Panakkad Sadiqali Shihab Thangal has been chosen as the Chairman of the Political Advisory Committee. E.T. Mohammed Basheer MP is the Organizing Secretary, and Abdussamad Samadani MP is the Senior Vice President.

The Vice Presidents include K.P.A. Majeed MLA, former MP M. Abdurahiman (Tamil Nadu), Siraj Ibrahim Seth, Dastagir Ibrahim Aag (Karnataka), S. Naeem Akhtar (Bihar), Kauser Hayat Khan (Uttar Pradesh), and K. Zainul Abideen.

Secretaries include Panakkad Munavvarali Thangal, Adv. Harris Beeran MP, T.A. Ahmed Kabeer, C.K. Subair (Kerala), Khurram Anees Umar (Delhi), Nawaz Kani MP, and Abdul Basith (Tamil Nadu).

Assistant Secretaries are Asif Ansari (Delhi), Faisal Babu, M.P. Muhammed Koya, Jayanti Rajan (Kerala), Dr. Najmul Hasan Ghani (U.P.), Fathima Musaffar (Tamil Nadu), and Anjani Kumar Sinha (Jharkhand).

League's Dalit representation
Jayanthi Rajan, a native of Irulam in Wayanad, was formerly the State President of the Dalit League's women’s wing and the National Secretary of the Women’s League. She also served as a member of the Panamaram Block Panchayat. Through her appointment, the League has managed to ensure representation of women, Dalits, and non-Muslims in one go. It also helped the party navigate the backlash from Samastha that often arises when a Muslim woman from Kerala is appointed to a key position.

Fathima Muzaffer, elected as Assistant Secretary, is the National President of the Women’s League and a Chennai Corporation Councillor. A law graduate, she is also a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.