KOCHI: Senior Congress leader and MP K Muraleedharan chose to withdraw from the DYFI-organised Yuvadhara Youth Literature Festival, which concluded in Fort Kochi on Sunday, after being instructed by the party leadership.
P K Kunhalikutty, the national general secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), who was scheduled to speak on the final day of the three-day event, also abstained from it. Both Muraleedharan and Kunhalikutty were expected to participate in the session titled ‘Indian Janathipathyam: Pratheekshakal, Aashankagal (Indian Democracy - Hopes and Concerns)’ on Sunday.
Muraleedharan confirmed that his party had instructed him not to attend the literature festival organised by the DYFI, the youth wing of CPM. He told TNIE, “I will not be attending the session. There is a restriction from the party. That’s why I decided to back out.” He said that he is not sure about the participation of Kunhalikutty in the event.
According to DYFI state president V Vaseef, Muraleedharan refrained from attending the programme due to the disapproval of the KPCC president. Additionally, Vaseef mentioned that Kunhalikutty communicated that he was unable to attend due to a health emergency in his family. On the other hand, the session took place as scheduled on Sunday, with speakers Adv Mohammed Shah and M V Govindan Master.
Earlier, the Congress had expelled senior leader K V Thomas from the party for attending a seminar organised by the CPM during its 23rd party congress in Kannur. The CPM had invited MP Shashi Tharoor and Thomas to the seminar. However, following directives from the state leadership, Tharoor withdrew from the event.