The IUML has backed off from Tuesday’s talks with the UDF leadership, amid a growing feeling in the party that the Congress should not be allowed to “take the party for granted anymore”.
“There is no conducive atmosphere for the talks”, said the party’s all-India general secretary E T Mohammed Basheer MP.
Given KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala’s snide remarks against the IUML, the party’s decision was not entirely unexpected.
The UDF had scheduled talks with the IUML and the Kerala Congress(M). Through the decision to boycott the meet, the IUML has sent out a strong message.
Against the backdrop of these developments, the IUML state secretariat meet scheduled for July 4 has turned out very crucial both for the party and the coalition.
The IUML’s emergency leadership meet on Sunday had decided to convene the secretariat meet and take a united stand on the developments.
Since clarifying that he had no intention to insult the IUML, the KPCC president hasn’t commented on the issue.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel spoke to the IUML leadership and Ramesh on Sunday.
IUML state general secretary K P A Majeed on Monday warned that no one should be under the impression that he or she can attack the party and get away with it.
“No party can rule the state single-handedly. And none should think that the Muslim League has no other place to pitch its tent,” he said in reply to Muraleedharan’s taunt that the League won’t reach anywhere if it leaves the UDF.
Meanwhile, Kerala Congress leader and Finance Minister K M Mani said it is not fair on the part of any political party to interfere in the internal affairs of other parties.
Also, he distanced himself from the accusation in his party publication that a prominent member of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s personal staff is involved in the solar scam.
“There is nothing wrong with the functioning of the Chief Minister’s office. The views expressed in the publication was not mine or the party’s, but of the one who wrote it,” the Finance Minister said.
And K Muraleedharan on Monday said he had cancelled his New Delhi trip to “avoid unnecessary speculation”.