MALAPPURAM: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is growing increasingly disillusioned with the treatment meted out to the party within the INDIA bloc, alleging that the Congress has been systematically sidelining the party and denying its national leaders due space in key events and committees. The League leadership believes AICC general secretary K C Venugopal is behind the moves, and is preparing to convey its displeasure to the Congress high command.
Resentment has been building over a series of incidents during the bloc’s protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to party sources, the first major setback came when IUML MP E T Mohammed Basheer was dropped at the last minute from the delegation scheduled to submit a complaint against the CEC to President Droupadi Murmu.
The party considers the denial of a speaking slot to its national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty at Sunday’s ‘Delhi Chalo’ rally at Ramlila Maidan an even ‘greater insult’, particularly when CPM general secretary M A Baby was given the opportunity. The exclusion of Muslim Youth League and Muslim Students Federation (MSF) from INDIA bloc’s student-youth coordination committee has further deepened the League’s sense of marginalisation.
A senior IUML leader said the party had little doubt about Venugopal’s role in the developments. “We are deeply insulted by the way the Congress high command is treating us. Our workers and leaders have been as active as those of the Congress in protests against the CEC. Despite that, we are facing unprecedented neglect. We are certain K C Venugopal is behind it, and we know why,” the leader told TNIE. “Party president Sayyid Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal is out of station. Once he returns, there will be a meeting with the Congress high command, and the matter will be discussed,” the leader said.
‘KC holds grudge against IUML for backing VDS’
Congress’ Ponnani MLA K P Noushad Ali backed IUML. “The League is the Congress’s oldest partner within the INDIA alliance. It has been an ally of the Congress since 1969, a time when the very concept of coalition politics had not yet taken root in India,” he wrote on Facebook.
A prominent Congress leader from Malabar said Venugopal’s resentment towards the League had become increasingly evident, linking it to the party’s position on the debate over selecting the chief minister in Keralam.
“There is no doubt that Venugopal holds a grudge against the IUML for standing with V D Satheesan. From what I have learnt, none of the other leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, are aware of this neglect. Both in Keralam and at the national level, IUML is the Congress’s biggest alliance partner. The Congress may have 63 seats in the assembly now, but the situation could be different five years from now. It is better to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” the leader told TNIE.
League’s complaints
IUML MP E T Mohammed Basheer was dropped at the last minute from the delegation scheduled to submit a complaint against the CEC to President Droupadi Murmu.
IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty denied speaking slot at Sunday’s ‘Delhi Chalo’ rally at Ramlila Maidan. CPM general secretary M A Baby given the opportunity.
MYL, MSF excluded from INDIA bloc’s student-youth coordination committee.
