After an extended period of dilly-dallying on the issue of whether to support Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) or not at the byelection at Vengara, Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani has decided to come to the aid of the old ally.
Announcing the decision at Pala on Saturday, he, however, made it clear that this was not part of the effort to build bridges between his party and the United Democratic Front.
Mr. Mani said the party had supported IUML’s P.K. Kunhalikutty in the last byelection in the Malappuram Lok Sabha seat. There had not been any change in the political climate since then and, as such, the party had decided to support the IUML in the byelection necessitated by the resignation of Mr. Kunhalikutty from the Vengara Assembly segment.
The KC(M) chief, however, said he had not decided to personally campaign for IUML’s candidate K.N.A. Khader. “I have not decided. My presence is not needed. Once the party takes a decision, party workers would take the campaign forward,” he said.
The announcement on political support comes in the wake of a formal request made by the IUML in this regard.
The high-power committee of the party which met earlier this month had discussed the issue, which, however, remained inconclusive. In fact, one of the suggestions made at the meeting was to allow party men to follow conscience voting.
Those who opposed the suggestion pointed out that this would amount to aligning with the Left. Meanwhile, others had argued that supporting the IUML would give a wrong signal that the party was still trying to build bridges with the UDF. It was against this backdrop that Mr. Mani made it clear that the support to the IUML was not a support for the UDF.
