MALAPPURAM: Faced with discontent among its ranks over denial of the party’s “rightful claim” for a third seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the IUML has been forced to remain adamant on its demand, upsetting the smooth sail of seat-sharing discussions within the UDF.
The grassroots-level workers want the IUML to resort to drastic decisions, including contesting the elections on its own, to “protect the pride” of the party.
Though the Congress agrees in principle that the IUML deserves more seats, it cited its own internal dynamics for denying the “just demand”. This time, the IUML cannot put forward the usual theory of “sacrificing” its legitimate claim for the sake of maintaining unity within the UDF as a good number of its workers believe that safeguarding the front’s unity is not the responsibility of IUML alone.
The LDF move to field K S Hamza, the expelled IUML state secretary, from Ponnani has also made it difficult for the party. There are reports that the CPM is eyeing the votes of disgruntled segments in Samastha, who have a score to settle with the IUML. If the equation works out in the entire Malabar region, not just IUML but the Congress too will have reasons to worry.
The party leadership has resolved not to budge on the issue. We hope that the deliberations will yield a positive outcome for the IUML – P M A Salam, IUML state general secretary
We hope deliberations with Cong will yield positive outcome, says Salam
IUML state general secretary PMA Salam asserted that the party remains steadfast in getting one more LS seat. Talking to reporters in Malappuram on Friday, he expressed optimism that a “favourable decision” would emerge from the forthcoming meeting between the leaders of the Congress and the League in Kochi on Sunday.
“The party leadership has resolved not to budge on the issue. We hope that the deliberations will yield a positive outcome for the IUML. Extending discussions beyond Sunday appears futile, considering that the LDF is poised to announce its candidates shortly thereafter,” Salam said.
Salam also said that a meeting of IUML leaders is scheduled for next Tuesday. “Senior party leaders will be meeting after Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal returns from his Gulf visit on Tuesday. Our plans and decisions will be unveiled after the meeting,” he said. However, despite all its postures, options are limited for the League as of now. Snapping ties with the Congress and joining the LDF is not a solution in the current political scenario. But the majority of the party workers are also against meekly surrendering to the Congress’s stubbornness. The Facebook post of Sajid Thayyil, an IUML supporter in Malappuram, sums up the party workers feeling. “This is nothing but insult…. Congress leadership is committing a big mistake,” he wrote.
