The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leadership has virtually short-circuited the dissent within its ranks in the choice of P.V. Abdul Wahab as the United Democratic Front’s second candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.
How much ever the party leadership might try to brush the incident under the carpet, it is evident that dissent expressed through a seemingly innocuous Facebook post had forced the party to hold wide-ranging consultations.
The IUML has perhaps taken pride that it is the only party in the State’s coalition system that was free from internal problems and the party is united under a single figurehead, the Panakkad Thangal. All other parties in the ruling coalition have some problem or the other, some of which are widely reported for their larger impact.
The fact that the differences were not the usual one between Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty and former Union Minister E. Ahmed, who represent two separate thought processes in the party, was not lost on the coalition mangers.
Facebook post
The fact that the Facebook post was by Syed Munawwarali Shihab Thangal, a younger member of the Panakkad family, is seen as a significant development by political circles here.
Against practice
The Facebook post, which was promptly deleted, was not as much against an individual, but the manner in which the choice is being made by a handful of senior leaders without assessing the general sentiments of party workers.
The post in fact forced the Thangal to hold consultations with district leaders, who were given an opportunity to express their views in private.
The fact that senior party leaders favoured Mr. Wahab was evident much before the working committee meeting began on Friday.
However, a large number of leaders felt that general secretary K.P.A. Majeed, who is seen as the IUML’s vocal and aggressive face, should be given the ticket, but the parliamentary committee meeting on Saturday went on to confirm Wahab’s nomination.
Thangal’s supremacy
The IUML leadership can take consolation that Panakkad Thangal’s supremacy was not challenged yet and that all leaders fully accepted his decision as the final word on party affairs.
Second term
Mr. Wahab, who is chairman of the Peevees group of companies, will get a second term as Rajya Sabha member, if elected.
Along with Vayalar Ravi of the Congress, Mr. Wahab will be the second candidate that the UDF can elect on the basis of its strength in the Assembly. Elections are slated on April 16 to three vacant seats. Mr. Ravi and Mr. Wahab are expected to file their papers on April 6, the last date for filing nominations.
