CPM Will Have No Truck with 'Communal' IUML, Says Kodiyeri

KASARGOD:The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a “communal party” and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will have no truck with it, said CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

Speaking to reporters at the Kasargod Press Club on Monday, he said IUML - by its very nature - could not be part of a non-Congress, non-BJP secular alliance. “CPM is ready to have an alliance with secular parties, but the Muslim League will not be part of it. It is a communal party,” he said.

At the same time, Kodiyeri said the Left Democratic Front would strengthen its relations with the Indian National League (INL). Referring to the party as “one of the strongest supporters” of LDF, he said a decision on admitting INL into the front would be taken by the constituents.

Kodiyeri said the byelection in Aruvikkara assembly constituency would be a referendum on the four-year performance of the UDF government. LDF has already decided to field a CPM candidate in the constituency, a traditional seat of RSP, which is now with UDF. The bypoll is necessitated by the death of Speaker G Karthikeyan.He said LDF was neither in a hurry nor anxious over parties joining the front. “LDF with its present members would win the upcoming elections to the local bodies and Assembly, and Aruvikkara would be a testament to that confidence,” he said.When asked to comment on CPI leader K E Ismail’s statement that corrupt leaders should not be part of LDF, making oblique reference to R Balakrishna Pillai of Kerala Congress (B), Kodiyeri said Ismail had not named anyone. “Today, the Kerala Congress (B) is not part of UDF and Pillai is leading many protests against the corruption in the UDF government,” he said, adding that LDF would discuss and decide whether to take KC(B) into the Left fold.