Wednesday, Oct 01, 2003
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Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram
By Our Special Correspondent
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Ahmed said it would be difficult for the UDF to function smoothly unless ``valid steps'' were taken to restore the ruling coalition's confidence and credibility with ``the minority community''. In reply to a question whether the IUML would demand a leadership change in the Congress, Mr. Ahmed said it was for the Congress to decide on the issue, but his party was not averse to taking an unambiguous position if the issue cropped up. ``The IUML will play a constructive, positive and strong role when the issue comes up,'' he said. Mr. Ahmed said the Ernakulam result clearly reflected the thinking in the Muslim community about the current positions of the UDF Government, whether it related to Marad or the Chief Minister's remark on minority-majority equation or the favourable attitude towards the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. Mr. Ahmed said that during his recent visit to the Gulf, he had been able to gauge the sentiments of the Indian community working there. The restive mood of this segment against the ``soft attitude'' of the Chief Minister to the ``Sharon issue'' and his ``controversial'' remark was evident. The State Government should be prepared to comprehend their sentiments. He said it was not possible to pinpoint any single factor for the defeat of the Congress candidate, M. O. John, in Ernakulam. The Marad issue and the Chief Minister's remark had their negative impact and as if to add injury to the insult, attempts were made to justify a Minister's meeting with Mr. Sharon. Mr. Ahmed, who reached here from Dubai in the aftermath of the by-poll result early this morning, immediately went into an exclusive session with the IUML State secretary and Industries Minister, P. K. Kunhalikutty, and other party leaders. Mr. Ahmed said he and other leaders would be meeting the party supremo, Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal, to take stock of the political situation. The party's working committee would be convened and a final decision would be taken on the party's stand. He made it clear that the IUML viewed the election result seriously and would come up with its evaluation soon. He also wanted the UDF constituents to evaluate the result and take an appropriate decision. On the Marad issue, he said the State Cabinet had already taken a decision to begin the rehabilitation process in the area by October 2. And in this context, further debate was unnecessary. Asked whether he was suggesting that the IUML would fully back the demand for a leadership change, Mr. Ahmed shot back: ``I have stated my party's views, it is up to you to have your interpretations.'' Mr. Ahmed, along with Mr. Kunhalikutty, later met the Chief Minister. Mr. Ahmed is understood to have expressed his party's concern at the Ernakulam result and the causes for the defeat. The Chief Minister convened a special session which was attended by Mr. Kunhalikutty, the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, and the Revenue Minister and Kerala Congress(M) leader, K.M. Mani. The meeting is presumed to have discussed the pros and cons of the Marad rehabilitation scheduled to begin on October 2.
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