M. K. Muneer is an Indian politician, physician, social worker, singer, poet and author from Kerala.[1][2] He was the Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayat in the last (May 2011 – May 2016) UDF Ministry, headed by Oommen Chandy and represented the Kozhikode South constituency in the legislative assembly. He was also the Minister for Public Works in A K Antony Ministry 3.[3] Muneer is a State secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League and[4] was the Chairman of the Malayalam TV channel Indiavision. He has written ghazals and books including Fascism and the Sangh Parivar.[5] He is a qualified medical doctor and patron of MCC-THAS-Haemophilia Society.[6]
Dr. M. K. Muneer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayath Affairs, Government of Kerala | |
| In office 23 May 2011 – 20 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Paloli Mohammed Kutty |
| Succeeded by | K. T. Jaleel |
| Deputy Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 22 April 2017 – 7 May 2021 | |
| Leader | Ramesh Chennithala |
| Preceded by | P. K. Kunhalikutty |
| Succeeded by | P. K. Kunhalikutty |
| Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Karat Razak |
| Constituency | Koduvally |
| In office 1 June 2011 – 3 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Ahamed Devarkovil |
| Constituency | Kozhikode South |
| In office 1996–2006 | |
| Preceded by | Younus Kunhu |
| Succeeded by | M. Ummer |
| Constituency | Malappuram |
| Minister For Public Works Department, Government of Kerala | |
| In office 26 May 2001 – 12 May 2006 | |
| Preceded by | P. J. Joseph |
| Succeeded by | P. J. Joseph |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 August 1962 Kozhikode, Kerala, India |
| Nationality |  Indian |
| Political party | Indian Union Muslim League |
| Spouse | Nafeesa Vineetha |
| Children | Two sons and one daughter |
| Residence | Kozhikode |
Muneer is the only son amongst the three children of C. H. Mohammed Koya,[3] veteran Muslim league politician and former Chief Minister of Kerala and Amina. In March 2017 he was elected as Deputy opposition leader in Kerala Legislative Assembly. He did his MBBS in a private medical college in Karnataka.[7] With a special order by the Government of Kerala post his father's death, he was allowed a transfer to Government Medical College, Kozhikode and eventually completed his course from there.[8] This became a controversy after he questioned the state aid given to a leader from Nationalist Congress Party.[7]
Minister in different ministries
edit| No. | Head of the Ministry | Period | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. K. Antony | 2001-04 | public work dept |
| 2 | Oommen Chandy | 2004-06 | public work dept |
| 3 | Oommen Chandy | 2011-16 | panchyath, social welfare |
Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 2021
editIn the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, he contested from Koduvally. He defeated Karat Razack by a margin of 6344 votes.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IUML | M. K. Muneer | 49,863 | 43.13% | ||
| INL | A. P. Abdul Vahab | 43,536 | 37.66% | ||
| BDJS | Satheesh Kuttiyil | 19,146 | 16.56% | ||
| NOTA | None of the above | 788 | 0.68% | ||
| SDPI | U. K. Deysi Balasubrahmanyan | 593 | 0.51% | ||
| BSP | Kamala Pavithran | 480 | 0.42% | ||
| Independent | A. P. Abdul Vahab | 287 | 0.25% | ||
| Independent | A. K. Sajan | 227 | 0.20% | ||
| Independent | Abdul Sathar | 211 | 0.18% | ||
| Independent | Muneer Davari | 190 | 0.16% | ||
| Independent | Premanand T. | 166 | 0.14% | ||
| Independent | Abdul Muneer | 130 | 0.11% | ||
| Margin of victory | 6,327 | 5.47% | |||
| Turnout | 1,15,617 | 77.57% | |||
| IUML hold | Swing | ||||
Controversies
editMuneer put a pro-LGBTQ post in Facebook during the pride month in 2021, only to be withdrawn later following severe criticism from party members.[10] Once popular as the progressive face of IUML, Muneer later became a staunch supporter of patriarchal and conservative form of Islam.[11] His strange argument that gender neutrality will make POCSO Act redundant stirred up a massive political controversy.[12][13] More recently, he is known for delivering negative speeches against the LGBT community including a controversial article published in Suprabhatam daily where he accused homosexuals of being violent and demanding rights for child sex abuse.[14] Despite being a former Minister who implemented transgender policy in Kerala; for the first time in an Indian state, Muneer stirred controversy by questioning the gender of the first trans man in India who gave birth to a baby.[15][16]
He also described the 7 October attacks by Hamas as 'resistance' at an IUML rally after Shashi Tharoor called it an act of terrorism.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Criticised for supporting homosexuality; Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community".
- ^ "MK Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row".
- ^ a b "Dr. M.K. Muneer To Host Amrita TV's Sangeetha Samagamam | Kerala Television". Keralatv.in. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ "Kerala / Kannur News : 'CPI(M) pursuing dangerous politics'". The Hindu. 29 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ Irfan (21 September 2007). "CC April 2008". Sabrang.com. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ "| MCC-THAS-Hemophilia Society |". Pedblood.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ a b "മുഖം രക്ഷിയ്ക്കാന് പുതിയ വാദവുമായി കെ എം ഷാജി: വെട്ടിലായത് കൂടെയിരുന്ന എം കെ മുനീര്". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ Web Desk. "കള്ളം പറയലാണോ രാഷ്ട്രീയം? അതും ഈ മരണകാലത്ത്? എ.എ റഹിം". MediaOne News | Latest Malayalam News from MediaOne Tv (in Malayalam). Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "2021 Koduvally Constituency Assembly Election Results". Election commission of India.
- ^ "Criticised for supporting homosexuality; M K Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community". Kerala Kaumudi.
- ^ "IUML's new voice of conservatism". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Gender neutrality will render POCSO Act redundant: M. K. Muneer". New Indian Express.
- ^ "M K Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row". Mathrubhumi.
- ^ "Gender neutrality: M. K. Muneer said that he will stand with morality". Media One.
- ^ "Kerala becomes first state to introduce policy for transgenders". NDTV.
- ^ "IUML leader MK Muneer makes hate comment on Kerala trans man who gave birth". The News Minute.
- ^ "At IUML rally, Shashi Tharoor calls Hamas action 'terrorist attack', MK Muneer terms it 'resistance'". Mathrubhumi English.
External links
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