Kerala Islamist Networks Adapt Post-PFI Ban, Expand Political Footprint for 2026 Polls

• Kerala's Islamist networks, linked to the banned PFI, have recalibrated strategies for political and ideological influence ahead of the 2026 state elections.
• Former PFI cadres have largely resurfaced through the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), establishing booth-level committees and absorbing PFI organizers.
• New aliases like Islamic Defence Forces of India (IDFI) and parallel NGOs like Rehab India Foundation continue operations, maintaining ideological loyalty.
• North Kerala remains a high concentration of IS sympathizers, with continued grassroots influence and radicalization cases.
• Intelligence reports highlight financial flows to Salafist madrasas from Gulf donors and ideological spillovers from Afghanistan, Syria, and groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team.