United Democratic Front (UDF) partners have decided to throw their weight behind Chief Minister Oommen Chandy following the massive victory for the Congress in the Aruvikkara by-election.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was the first to express its support to Mr. Chandy, prompting some of the partners who were being baited by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) leadership to stay put in the ruling coalition following the Aruvikkara victory. The UDF leadership has asserted that the Aruvikkara win was made possible because of strong unity among the coalition partners.
Congress factions also closed ranks to ensure the party candidate, K.S. Sabarinadhan’s victory, a development which will go a long way in reinforcing the belief that the Congress can get back to its winning ways if the factions stay united.
During the current term of the UDF, the IUML leadership, significantly enough, has been taking moderate positions, particularly after its demand for a fifth berth in the Chandy Cabinet was met. It has constantly supported Mr. Chandy more as a measure of gratitude. With the emergence of the BJP-led NDA Government and the declining influence of the CPI(M)-led left parties, the IUML believes that it has no other alternative but to stick to the Congress as the best alternative force that can take on the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.
It has taken quiet steps to neutralise fundamentalist elements within the Muslim community if only to consolidate it. The party even went to the extent of drafting Sayyed Hyderali Sihab Thangal for the Aruvikkara by-election, where Poonthura Suraj of the People’s Democratic Party was in the fray. “We have played our part in containing minority communalism, which is equally dangerous,” IUML leader and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said soon after the results were out.
The Janata Dal(U), led by M.P. Veerendra Kumar, which initially had doubts about continuing in the UDF, did not lose time in supporting the Congress. The Revolutionary Socialist Party, which too had been tipped to be a “prospective recruit” for the LDF, did not waste time in its support to the Congress and the Chief Minister. The Kerala Congress (M) did not go to the extent of other coalition partners in praising the Chief Minister, but it did indicate its stand favouring the Congress. The Chief Minister on his part attributed the by-election victory to the UDF collective. In order to foster the spirit of unity, it was even suggested at Thursday’s UDF meeting that the seat-sharing talks should be started.
Partners being baited by LDF stay put in UDF
IUML sees Cong. as best choice to take on BJP
