Muslim organisations object to conducting Lok Sabha election on Friday

Kozhikode: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the main ally of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and a few other Muslim organizations like Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) have appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to postpone the announced Polling day, April 26 in the second phase in Kerala and Tamilnadu, citing that April 26 was Friday, considered as a sacred day of the Muslim Community.

Muslim organizations jointly raised objections and concerns about conducting the Kerala and Tamilnadu Lok Sabha elections on April 26, which would cause inconvenience to those offering collective namaz (prayers ) including deputed polling officials, voters, or booth agents of political parties belonging to Muslim community.

IUML General Secretary P M A Salam said "Friday is observed as Jumu'ah day (day of congregation) in Islam, so the Muslim people gather in mosques to offer namaz (prayers). The Election Commission scheduled the second phase of the Lok Sabha election In Kerala and Tamilnadu fall on Friday, this would be too inconvenient to Muslim voters, as well as Polling officials belonging to this religion.

He said the IUML will bring the issue to the attention of the Chief Election Commissioner to consider the matter, while the SKSSF State Secretariat and Wisdom Islamic Organization (WIO) have sought to postpone the election to another day.

The Wisdom Islamic Organization (WIO) has asked the State Government to officially demand the EC to postpone the elections to another day. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Uluma State president Syed Muhammed Jifri Muthkoya has said " Friday polls would pose challenges for voters and officials on duty and it could affect voter turnout.