Keralam: Why population counts for Malappuram, but not for delimitation?

Why does Congress-led Keralam want to bifurcate the Muslim-majority district of Malappuram, citing population growth, while refusing to use population as a criterion for Lok Sabha delimitation? 

The district that has nearly 70 percent muslim popuation is in the thick of the news these days, with Keralam Congress giving its consent for the bifurcation of Malappuram district. The Indian Union Muslim League, a strong ally of Congress has been seeking bifurcation of Malappuram into two to three districts, describing the exercise as essential to ensure better amenities for the inhabitants. 

Malappuram is no ordinary district of Keralam & has a history attached to it. As the tenth district of Keralam, Malappuram district was officially created on 16 June 1969. It was CPI(M)-led United Front government that included the Indian Unioin Muslim League. EMS Namboodiripad was then the chief minister. Significantly, BJP, then Jansangh had opposed this move to create a Muslim-centric district. But CPM government then under pressure from muslim groups, particularly the League, went ahead to create a Muslim-dominated district. 

The population of Malappuram is 41 lakhs as of 2001 census. Though it has touched 45 lakh now as per rough estimates. Several muslim organisation has been seeking bifurcation of the district for long. Notably, among the IUML, Kerala Muslim Jamat,  Samastha Kanthapuram & others. The SDPI had organised hartals to press the same issue more than a decade back. The reason they give for bifurcation includes administrative stress. Revenue offices, taluk administrations and district-level institutions in Malappuram, they say handle unusually high caseloads and thus bifurcation is the solution.

But the latest to reignite this debate has been ascend of Cong led UDF government to power in the state and IUML, a key part of the governance. League state general secretary PMA Salam argues that the district, with a population of around 45 lakh, could be divided into three or four districts. 

Interestingly, the Congress that way back in 1969 opposed carving out a district taking just Muslim majoritarianism as the sole criterion, is now facilitating the creation of many more Malappurams. 

Many question the motives of these muslim organisations seeking bifurcation. Hindu Aikya Vedi leader K P Sasikala on Facebook questions as to whether population control, rather than administrative reorganisation, should be the priority.

Insiders do not rule out V D Satheesan, the incumbent Keralam CM, giving a commitment to the League for bifurcation of Malappuram as leader of the opposition in the assembly, and this was also a reason why IUML insisted on Satheesan as CM shortly after the assembly verdict was out.

However, the argument of high population linked to administrative convenience behind district bifurcation also strengthens another argument that the population criterion behind delimitation of parliamentary constituencies stands vindicated.