Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

‘A vote for IUML's secular politics'

Thiruvananthapuram: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty has asserted that the results of the local body elections once again vindicated the secular politics upheld by his party.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Kunhalikutty said the results reflected the dominance of the IUML in Kerala politics, becoming the third largest political party. The fringe Muslim groups and organisations which contested this election had no political relevance. In several places, the CPI(M) had adjustments with these sections giving them some leverage. For several years, the CPI(M) had been courting with these sections in their attempt to weaken the IUML and its leadership. The electorate in general, and the Muslim community in particular, had rejected this brand of politics, he said.

He said the IUML had won 1,443 grama panchayat, 190 block panchayat, 32 district panchayat, 234 municipality and five Corporation seats. It was third only to the Congress which won a total of 7,235 seats in the three-tier local bodies and the CPI(M) which secured 6,277 seats. The IUML had pushed the CPI to the third position.

In reply to a question, Mr. Kunhalikutty who was accompanied by E.T. Mohammed Basheer, MP, at the press conference said the media had overplayed the role of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in the elections. The PDP won eight, the Jamaat-e-Islami two and the SDPI four seats.

“One cannot compare the record of these sections with that of the IUML. It is clear that civic society does not encompass their political line,” he said.

He could prove with evidence the local level adjustments the CPI(M) had with fringe Muslim groups

He did not agree to the viewpoint that the BJP had broadened its political base.

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‘A vote for IUML's secular politics'

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