The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has fielded writer and journalist Alankode Leelakrishnan as its candidate from Thrissur for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, bringing renewed attention to past remarks in which he praised Islamic scripture while criticising Hindu texts.
Anti-Hindu Remarks
Leelakrishnan used to be associated with Bhakthapriya, a publication of the Guruvayur Devaswom, which administers one of Kerala’s most prominent Hindu temples. He had served on the magazine’s editorial board. It was around this time that he made anti-Hindu remarks, prompting criticism from some groups who questioned how an individual associated with a temple institution could make public remarks critical of Hindu scriptures.
Leelakrishnan had courted controversy during a public address at a prize distribution event organised by Dialogue Centre Kerala, affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, where he spoke on religious texts. During the event, he described the Bhagavad Gita as a “failure,” referred to Rama and Krishna as “mere characters,” and called the Quran an “eye-opener.”
The remarks drew criticism from several quarters, with detractors alleging that he applied a selective standard by criticising Hindu beliefs while praising Islamic scripture at a religiously affiliated platform.
Praises Islam
Speaking at the book release, in February 2024, of “Manava Calendar: A Comprehensive Study” authored by Dr. T.V. Koyakutty Farooqi, Alankode Leelakrishnan openly praised Islam, asserting that it spread across the world through knowledge rather than violence and dismissing contrary historical claims as propaganda by its enemies. He described the Quran as a text that “opens the eyes” of those who seek inquiry and credited his own understanding to reading its Malayalam translation later in life. He further claimed that scientific systems such as a lunar calendar comparable to the widely followed Christian calendar were rooted in Quranic principles, presenting Islam as a civilizational force grounded in knowledge, rationality, and intellectual awakening.
Leelakrishnan’s selection as the LDF’s candidate for Thrissur has been described as unexpected, with reports indicating that the party’s state leadership overruled district-level recommendations in finalising his nomination.
He is currently campaigning as part of the LDF’s campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections.
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