By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net
With state elections around the corner in Kerala, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has swung into poll mode in Kerala, and its initial steps have certainly made people stand up and take notice.
With the list of candidates completed in 24 seats, sources in the party told Twocircles that candidates were selected based on a report submitted by a private professional team along with considering various other factors.
The party, which retained its five ministers, P K Kunhalikkutty, P K Abdur Rabb, M K Muneer, VK Ebrahim Kunju and Manjalamkuzhy Ali, has denied tickets for four sitting MLAs, who are conceived as ‘inaccessible for the public’ and outdated.
According to the report submitted to the party, Kottakkal and Vallikkunnu MLAs M P Abdul Samad Samadani and KNA Kader respectively were found inaccessible for the public. “Complaints were pouring against the duo from local leaders their respective constituency for inaction in public affairs. The report has found such factors. The party has denied them seats. The leadership has extended due consideration to the report,” said one of the state committee members of IUML on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, C Moinkutty from Thiruvambadi and Muhmmadunni Haji in Kondotty were denied seats in order to bring fresh faces to the assembly. Sitting MLA from Koduvally M Ummer Master was shifted to Thiruvambadi while the candidature at Koduvally was given to IUML Kozhikode district general secretary M A Razaq Master, contesting for the first time. IUML district secretary T V Ibrahim was replaced with sitting MLA Muhammadunni Haji in Kondotty.
According to the party sources, IUML leadership is happy with the performance of four ministers while Minister for Urban Affairs and Minority Welfare Manjalamkuzhi Ali had drawn criticism from party workers for his poor performance and inaction in some issues like the development of AMU Malappuram campus.
However, despite complaints he has been retained and it will be interesting to see how this impacts the party’s performance.