KOCHI: Keeping all the controversial topics away from public discussion, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has decided to switch into the local body election mode, within ten days. The party leaders, at a press conference after a meeting of its state working committee here on Monday, even declined to reply on the difference of opinion in the party about “lighting of the nilavilakku at functions” to repeated questions just stating there is “nothing new”.
While E T Muhammed Basheer MP, who earlier had a “no” to lighting of lamp in public, described “there is no new stand for the party on the issue’’, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikkutty intervened to state, ‘’at the meeting we were discussing many topics of national and state importance. Then you should not make us look bad by bringing the issue of lamp (Velakkinte karyathil Vedakkakkenda)”, he said.
According to Basheer, no discussion held on the topic as it was not at all important. “There is no change in the party line. It is a misconception that there are two opinions in the party regarding the matter”.
According to sources, the lamp issue was avoided as the party leadership felt that it would only prove beneficial to the Hindutva forces, ultmately.
The leaders also brushed aside queries on the alleged complaint to the Chief Minister by the PWD Minister against the Home Minister regarding the suspension of a few tainted officers in his department. “These are mundane issues in a coalition and it can be settled in the internal discussions. We cannot discuss and react based on the breaking news,” said Kunhalikkutty.
The party has constituted parliamentary boards comprising five members at both state and district level.
“They will look into the election mattes including the candidates and will have their first meeting before August 15,” said general secretary K P A Majeed.
The press conference which was attended by members of the high-power committee including party state president Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, E Ahamed MP, P V Abdul Wahab MP, Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal and Treasurer P K K Bava eschewed the questions on capital punishment.
Though the party officially stated the meeting was for discussing the panchayat elections, M K Muneer, the minister in charge of the portfolio, was late into the meeting.