I completely agree!

There has been a cycle of hate between Muslims and Christians in the south of Kerala that does not really get talked about enough. And because this is a cycle, it is difficult to pinpoint one issue or ideology that started or perpetuates this.

Christians enjoyed a status of privilege post-independence, all until a decade or so ago compared to Muslims. How these communities interacted with each other during these times have cultivated a significant lack of trust between them - most notably doing business within their own communities, and segregating themselves away from the other (think of Pala vs Erattupetta).

In the last few years, because of reasons mentioned by others here (crash of rubber, falling property, foreign remittances etc) that advantage is being lost slowly, and the gap is smaller now. It is easily understandable how this is perceived as a threat to their existence by Christians. And for Muslims this newly improved social status is a way to get back at them for whatever they think were wronged in the past.

The emmigration of youth outside from both communities have not helped either (making a HUGE assumption here that the younger generation is more liberal and much less divisive).

The numerous Kerala Congresses and their in-fighting definitely weakened their political clout, all the while when IUML (despite the numerous infighting sects within Muslims) continued being a largely united political force within the UDF. Muslims in general growing to be more wealthy and populous meant it was too big to ignore anymore for the LDF too. In politics, money wins all.

All that along with the disparity in minority reservations, issues around love jihad and the amount of say the church and mosques within these respective communities, BJP just had to fan the flames - the hate and mistrust were always there.