Kunhalikutty would be 2nd in command in next UDF cabinet: Sadiq Ali Thangal

He was responding to a question from the moderator about why the League had not had a chief minister since C H Mohammed Koya.
 P K Kunhalikutty
P K Kunhalikutty(File photo)
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MALAPPURAM: A session at the ‘Ma’ cultural and literature festival in Malappuram provided a sneak preview of the political intrigue and wish lists taking shape ahead of next year’s assembly election. Speaking at the ‘Manasuthuranu’ forum on Saturday, IUML state president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said, in a laid-back manner, that his party “can certainly have a chief minister if the Congress permits it”.

He was responding to a question from the moderator about why the League had not had a chief minister since C H Mohammed Koya.

On whether if not the CM, a deputy chief minister appointee from the party would do, Thangal said the IUML national general secretary would hold the second most influential position in the cabinet if the UDF wins the next election. He also clarified that it is the IUML’s general opinion that P K Kunhalikutty would lead it in the election.

During a discussion on ‘Youth and Politics,’ held on Sunday, Youth Congress state president and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil said that young politicians have a limited role in shaping the policies of parties in the state. “Senior leaders from the 1970s have been the ones formulating policy.

This also raises the need for self-criticism. The bold decisions they took in the past have kept them in those positions. However, as long as young leaders strive to prove themselves, they will create space to influence policy-making,” Rahul said.

Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal
Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state president V Vaseef, however, disagreed with Rahul’s view that younger politicians should be given more opportunities to shape party policies.

“Age is not an issue here. I believe we have strong, courageous and experienced leadership to formulate policies,” he said.

The session took a heated turn when the topic of the Congress taking the help of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Wayanad parliamentary elections over the years was brought up. Muslim Youth League state general secretary P K Firos criticised the CPM for suggesting that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won the Wayanad constituency with the support of communal forces.

“We are used to the BJP and the Sangh parivar making such statements, but what is prompting the CPM to echo their views?” Firos said.

Vaseef cited previous remarks made by IUML leader K M Shaji and Firos against the Jamaat.

“Both the RSS and the Jamaat-e-Islami pose a threat to society. The RSS, with power, and Jamaat-e-Islami, without power, must both be opposed,” he said. However, Vaseef failed to explain how Priyanka could have won by a margin of over four lakh votes in Wayanad with the support of a relatively small party like Jamaat-e-Islami.

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