Welfare Party of India's Kerala unit backs Cong-led UDF for Lok Sabha polls

The Kerala unit of the Welfare Party of India, a political entity with ties to Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, declared its support for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday.

Emphasizing the urgency of countering what they termed as "the Sangh Parivar's" influence, the party underscored the significance of the Congress securing more seats.

State president Razaq Paleri explained on the party's decision, stating it was a continuation of their stance from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"In addition to supporting INDIA alliance candidates nationwide, the Welfare Party State Committee has decided to uphold its 2019 position of endorsing Congress-led UDF candidates in all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala," Paleri announced during a press conference.

Responding to queries about whether the decision was coordinated with the Congress, Paleri clarified that it was an independent political choice made by the Welfare Party.

The move comes amidst the Congress's earlier rejection of support from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), linked to the banned Islamist organization Popular Front of India (PFI).

The Congress, as of yet, has not issued a response to this latest development, signifying potential shifts in political alignments and strategies as the electoral landscape in Kerala evolves.