In 1945 Kaleel suffered his first heart attack and was unable to join the Muslim League Delegation, which gave evidence before the Soulbury Commission nor was he able to attend the inaugural meeting of the United National Party.
At the 1st parliamentary election, held between 23 August 1947 and 20 September 1947, he acceded to Tuan Burhanudeen Jayah representing the United National Party in the Colombo Central electorate.
Jayah was subsequently elected as the second member for Colombo Central,[3][4] and was appointed as Minister of Labour and Social Services in the D. S. Senanayake cabinet.
In 1956, at the 3rd parliamentary election he failed to secure one of the three seats in the Colombo Central electorate losing to the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna candidate, M. S. Themis, by a mere thirty five votes.
In the subsequent parliamentary election in July 1960 the United National Party was defeated however Kaleel retained his seat as third member for Colombo Central.