Relief for Congress-led UDF in Kerala, IUML reiterates support

Thiruvananthapuram (Uttam Hindu News): The Congress, which leads the United Democratic Front opposition, heaved a sigh of relief after IUML supremo Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal said his party has no plans to leave the UDF. “We will not step back even an inch from our stand and to change our political views,” Thangal said. We don’t want to take the ‘bank’ route. “And if anyone is hoping that we will change our political views, that can be put to rest forever.”

In the last few years, IUML has been up and down in its attempt to gain ground, especially when the Congress has come under pressure. In 2011, when the Oommen Chandy government completed its five-year term with a majority of just two seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the IUML showed its strength and secured its fifth cabinet berth.

The ruling Left Front government led by Pinarayi Vijayan’s CPI(M) has been going through tough times for quite some time now and with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections round the corner, they are trying their best to woo IUML. CPI(M) tried its best to destabilize Congress when it invited IUML for a pro-Palestine rally, but Congress heaved a sigh of relief after IUML decided not to accept the invitation.

This was followed by the other wing of the CPI(M), when they praised the IUML and tried to woo it to join CM Vijayan’s ongoing statewide visit. But, IUML rejected it. On Tuesday morning, Left Front coordinator E.P. Jayarajan, veteran IUML MLA P.K. Kunhalikutty was praised as a strong leader.
“Many things are happening in IUML,” Jayarajan said, giving ample indication that Thangal’s statement made no sense.