A collective of Muslim political parties and organisations in Kerala known as Muslim Coordination Committee (MCC), headed by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state president, has extended a formal invitation to the CPM to attend its seminar against the uniform civil code (UCC) to be held in Kozhikode on July 26, increasing the uneasiness of the Congress.

Earlier, the CPM had invited the IUML for its anti-UCC seminar held on July 15. Although the IUML had turned down the ruling party’s invitation saying that it won’t attend since the Congress was not invited, influential Sunni body Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama and a few other religious organisations participated in the seminar inaugurated by CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

The CPM’s invitation to the IUML, the second biggest member of the United Democratic Front (UDF), had caused much heartburn in the Opposition camp with several Congress leaders crying foul and accusing the ruling party of trying to divide the Muslim voters ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

State IUML general secretary P.M.A. Salam told The Telegraph on Monday that the invitation for the July 26 event was extended to the CPM on behalf of the MCC.

“We are not directly involved in sending out invitations although the MCC is headed by our state president,” he said, alluding to Syed Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal, who is also a member of the family that is considered the spiritual leadership of the party.

“Congress, CPM, CPI and organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami have also been invited for the seminar,” he said, trying to stay clear of any direct relationship with the Congress’s arch-rival.

But Salam clarified that not all political parties have been invited to speak at the event because of the paucity of time.

“There are so many organisations and political parties that have declared their staunch opposition to the proposed UCC. But not all of them would be accommodated because of the shortage of time,” he said, alluding to the event that would last four to five hours.

Asked if he expected the CPM to participate, especially after the IUML rejected its invitation, Salam said: “I saw a report in a news channel that the CPM has decided to send a representative. But I have no knowledge if they have communicated this to the organisers.”

But the CPM, which has planned several such seminars in the state, has not officially said anything about the MCC event in Kozhikode.

Tamil Nadu health minister and DMK leader Ma. Subramanian will inaugurate the seminar titled Uniform Civil Code: Unseen Angles of a Polarisation Agenda at 4pm at the Mohammed Abdur Rahman Memorial Jubilee Hall in Kozhikode on Wednesday.

Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan of the Congress, on Monday told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the UDF will discuss the UCC and Manipur violence at its Bahuswaratha Sangamam (Diversity Conclave) on July 29 in Thiruvananthapuram.

The state Congress had to cancel its own seminar against the UCC, scheduled for July 22 in Kozhikode, because of the demise of former chief minister Oomen Chandy.

Satheesan said the party would announce a fresh date for the seminar, while the UDF will focus on the twin issues.