The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has reiterated its claim on deputy chief ministership, if that post is created in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.
India Union Muslim League leaders reiterated the claim during an interaction with mediapersons after a meeting of party leaders at the League House here on Thursday.
“There has not been any development to warrant a change in the IUML stand on deputy chief ministership,” E.T. Mohammed Basheer, IUML all-India secretary, and K.P.A. Majeed, State general secretary, told reporters after the meeting.
The League leaders said the IUML being the second biggest constituent of the UDF, deserved the deputy chief minister’s post if it was created.
“There is no compromise on this claim…. The League leaders decided against going to Delhi (for talks with Congress high command) since circumstances do not warrant such a visit.
“Media reports to the effect that the League has put forward certain conditions for solving some problems facing the UDF are also not true,” the League leaders said.
Mani hardens stance
Special Correspondent adds from Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M) chairman and Finance Minister K.M. Mani has hardened his stance on the issue of deputy chief minister’s post.
Speaking to the media at Pala on Thursday, Mr. Mani said a final decision could not be made by the Congress alone. He pointed out that the issue must be discussed in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and added that the topic had not been brought for discussion within the coalition as yet.
Mr. Mani reiterated that the Kerala Congress (M) had a rightful claim for a berth in the Union Cabinet and said the Congress should adopt a supportive stance to the demand.
He clarified that he would not be heading for New Delhi for discussions pertaining to the Cabinet reshuffle as he had not been invited by the Congress high command.
Kerala Congress (M) general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Joy Abraham called for settling the grievances of all UDF constituents while arriving at solutions for the outstanding issues within the Congress.
In a statement here, Mr. Abraham said his party’s demand for a berth in the Union Cabinet was a long-standing one. It was the responsibility of the Congress to take into confidence all constituents in order to ensure unity in the UDF.
Black flags waved
Staff Reporter writes from Kozhikode: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was shown black flags by activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) at three places in the district on Thursday.
The agitation started in the morning when over 50 DYFI workers broke the police security cordon and waved black flags at the Chief Minister as he arrived at the Kozhikode railway station from Thiruvananthapuram.
The protesters were waiting in front of the railway station and entered the platform as Mr. Chandy alighted from the Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express at 6.15 a.m. Waving black flags they demanded his resignation over the solar scam.
However, Mr. Chandy was safely escorted by the police to his car. Then one of the agitators hurled a chappal at the vehicle when the police blocked them.
Soon afterwards the police chased with lathis the regrouped workers who tried to continue their demonstration. Two DYFI activists suffered injuries in the melee. The railway police have registered a case in connection with the incident. Later in the day, a group led by DYFI State committee member P. Nikhil tried to block the Chief Minister’s convoy in front of the Central Income Tax Office. Mr. Chandy was returning to the Government Guest House after attending the Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal and Syed Umar Bafaqi Thangal commemoration meet organised by the IUML.
