The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is keeping strategic silence over the deputy chief minister post in the UDF government. It is learnt that the party is against awarding Ramesh Chennithala the deputy chief minister post as P K Kunhalikutty is currently enjoying the second position in the Cabinet.
However, the party leadership is not voicing its worries and is waiting for the UDF to hold a meeting to spell out its stand on the issue.
“We are not making any comments regarding the possible induction of Ramesh Chennithala into the Cabinet as deputy chief minister. The Congress has not discussed the matter with us so far and we haven’t been officially informed about such a development in any of the UDF meetings. The IUML will make clear its stand regarding the deputy chief minister post if the issue is raised in the UDF meetings,” IUML general secretary K P A Majeed told Express.
Sources in the party said that the IUML would never agree with such a move which would dethrone Kunhalikutty from the position of the second most powerful man in the Cabinet.
“If the Congress takes such a decision it would destabilise the UDF government. There are more eligible persons than Ramesh Chennithala to be deputy chief minister. The IUML is not against bringing Chennithala to the Cabinet, but we cannot accept awarding him the post of deputy chief minister. The IUML is the second largest constituent in the UDF and its leader should be the person next to chief minister in the Cabinet,” a senior IUML leader said on condition of anonymity.
Small parties in the UDF fear that Chennithala becoming the second-in-command in the Cabinet would pave way for a rebellion in the Front. “K M Mani has openly criticised the Congress move. We also are not willing to accept the Congress taking such a decision without discussing it in UDF meetings.
At present, there is no such situation in the UDF that demands the appointment of a deputy chief minister,” said Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Johny Nelloor. IUML sources also expressed hope that the Congress would backtrack on the move when other UDF constituents register their protests.