UDF partner IUML warns Congress as relations sour

IANS/Thiruvananthapuram

The IUML, which has been a part of the ruling United Democratic Front since 1985, was angry after state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala last week said it has been the history of the Muslim party to always demand extra.

An hour after he made the statement at a party meeting, Chennithala sought to clarify that his comment had nothing to do with the present relations between the two parties, but he was just repeating what his predecessor said many years back.

The next day, IUML’s top brass went into a huddle to discuss the issue and even considered boycotting the weekly cabinet meeting today, before deciding against the abrupt move.

“Everyone has self-respect and please do not be under the impression that the IUML does not have any other place to go. All in the UDF have equal responsibility towards the UDF dispensation,” party general secretary K P A Majeed said.

“The comments made by a few top Congress leaders (Aryadan Mohamed and K Muraleedharan) were unwarranted,” he said.

He said they would meet again tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

Playing down the feud, UDF convener P P Thankachen told reporters that there were no serious issues between the two parties.

However, a Congress leader accused the IUML of resorting to its “time-tested pressure politics.”

“The IUML is now again playing its time-tested pressure politics as they want their ‘own’ Malappuram district to be bifurcated and they are playing this new trick,” said the Congress leader who did not wish to be identified.