The political affairs committee of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which met online on Sunday, said that the result of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly election would be a pointer to the 2024 Lok Sabha election outcome.

The party maintains that the BJP’s defeat in Karnataka is inevitable. “Even in the pre-election opinion polls, the Congress is commanding a good chance. There is huge opposition among the people against the anti-democratic moves against Rahul Gandhi. The government of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is the most corrupt in history,” the party said.

IUML said that the BJP was openly practising religious polarisation and the cancellation of 4 per cent reservation for the Muslim community was a part of this plan. “The Muslim League has the responsibility to ensure the failure of this communal politics,” the party said.

The IUML meeting, which was presided over by political affairs committee chairman Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, decided to support Congress candidates to counter the BJP’s attempt to win by dividing the secular votes. It plans to hold talks with the Congress leaders on the formulation of a political position on the issues faced by the minorities under the BJP rule.

“The party has decided to extend its support to the Congress leadership to defeat the Sangh parivar, which is threatening the very existence of the Muslim, minority and backward communities,” the party said.

The IUML called on all parties, big and small, to rally behind the Congress.