‘Love Jihad’ becomes political issue amid campaign for Kerala Assembly elections

• Debate intensifies over ‘The Kerala Story 2’ during election campaigning

• Allegations raised that even the Chief Minister’s daughter was a victim of ‘love jihad’

• Claims of religious conversion involving 5,000 Hindu and Christian women over the past decade

Kochi (Kerala) – With the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for April 9th, political debate in the state has intensified around the film The Kerala Story 2, which claims to highlight alleged conspiracies related to “love jihad.”

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier described the film as political propaganda favouring the BJP and imposed a ban on its screening in the state, citing concerns related to public order and expression. However, the High Court later permitted its release, though several theatre owners reportedly remained reluctant to screen it.

Amid these developments, Monalisa Bhosale, who had gained attention during the Kumbh Mela, married her partner Farman Khan at a temple in Kerala. Senior CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaac shared photographs of the wedding on social media, remarking, “This is the real Kerala Story.” (If something happens tomorrow to Monalisa, why shouldn’t the government arrest Thomas Isaac as the mastermind of the love jihad plot and hang him ? – Editor)

Understanding the Debate Through Reported Data and Claims

1. Districts such as Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur, and Palakkad are cited by certain groups as having recorded the highest number of alleged religious conversion cases linked to “love jihad.”

2. These six districts together account for 70 of Kerala’s 140 Assembly constituencies.

3. Except for Thrissur, all the above districts reportedly have Muslim populations exceeding 30%.

4. It has also been noted that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena, married Mohammed Riyas, a leader associated with the CPI(M)’s youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India, in 2020.

5. Father Michael Pullikkal of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council stated that while characters and stories in The Kerala Story may be fictional, the issue discussed in the film relates to concerns raised within Kerala. According to him, members of both Hindu and Christian communities have expressed apprehensions regarding conversions allegedly carried out by radical groups.

6. R.V. Babu, president of Hindu Aikya Vedi, claimed that 10–12 such cases are reported every month and that more than 5,000 women converted to Islam between 2015 and 2025.

7. Dr. Dhanuraj, Director of the Centre for Public Policy Research, observed that The Kerala Story has become a major talking point in the election discourse. However, he added that it remains uncertain whether voters will base their electoral choices solely on this issue.

8. Differing views from Muslim community members: Sajil, a Kochi resident, stated that the film’s narrative is not factual and argued that love is a personal matter between individuals and should not be framed in communal terms. He added that interfaith marriages should not automatically be labelled as “love jihad.” (If so, why forced conversions happen in some reported cases. – Editor)

9. Political criticism: Another Kochi resident, Anup, alleged that the ruling CPI(M) projects itself as supportive of minority communities to consolidate Muslim votes and cited publicity around Monalisa as an example.

Editorial Perspective

It may be said that films such as The Kerala Story 2 will truly succeed only if they create awareness among Hindus and lead them to reconsider political narratives that dismiss the concept of “love jihad.” The issue should be viewed not merely as politics but as a matter concerning the protection of Hindu women.