KC factions in a bind as Catholic Church hardens stance on Waqf Amendment Bill

As the Catholic Church hardens its opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, particularly against the backdrop of the Munambam land dispute, political parties dependent on Catholic votes in central Travancore are now finding themselves in a precarious position.

The Kerala Congress (M) and Kerala Congress (Joseph) now face a tough choice of either aligning with their respective coalition’s stance on the bill or risk alienating their core Christian voter base. A clear message from the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) has now put these parties on high alert while for the BJP, it serves as a strategic boost

Senior BJP leaders, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, have openly welcomed the KCBC’s position as the BJP is actively looking to capitalize on the growing discontent over the Munambam land issue.

The Kerala Congress factions, on the other hand, have largely remained silent on the issue. Their reluctance to comment is telling, especially as the Catholic Church has recently adopted a more outspoken approach in expressing dissatisfaction with the leading coalitions in the State.

When contacted, Jose K. Mani, chairman of KC(M) and Rajya Sabha MP, stated that he would wait for more clarity on the final version of the Waqf Bill before making any remarks. “An appropriate stance will be taken after going through the bill and the legal validity of various proposals in it’‘, he said.

Kottayam MP and Kerala Congress (Joseph) deputy chairman, Francis George, too echoed a similar sentiment, noting that the bill might be revised based on recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

“We will respond once we have the final draft of the bill. The UDF and the INDIA bloc will take an appropriate stand after reviewing the amendments,” Francis George told reporters.

Despite their public restraint, the party leaders on both sides acknowledge the challenge of balancing their allegiance to the respective coalitions with the expectations of the Catholic community.The Joseph faction, however, remains hopeful that the UDF will not take a position that directly contradicts the KCBC’s stand as it may trigger a political backlash in central Travancore.

For KC(M), the Munambam land dispute is at the heart of the Church’s opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill. Party leaders assert that they have already pledged full support to the Church on this matter. “We will explore the legal feasibility of amending the bill to address the Munambam issue. At the same time, the attempts to rectify any undemocratic provisions in the existing law will have to be supported,” a senior KC(M) leader stated.

KC(M), for its part, is now strategising ways to navigate the differences within the Church regarding its perceived pro-BJP stance. The party plans to engage directly with the people, emphasising its commitment to addressing key concerns raised by the Church—including the declining price of rubber, increasing wildlife attacks, buffer zone disputes, and the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

Through public campaigns, KC(M) intends to channel public dissatisfaction over these issues towards the Union Government.