The Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are strange bedfellows in Malappuram, the district with the largest number of civic bodies in the State. Even when they remain the top two partners in the United Democratic Front (UDF), they have crossed swords in two dozen local bodies in the district.
Although there were issues between the League and the Congress in the local bodies elections held in 2000, 2005, and 2010, they had never deteriorated to the current level. Even when they call it friendly fight, both Congress and IUML leaders are aware that the results would either be pyrrhic or disastrous for both parties.
Although they are fighting each other in 23 panchayats and Kondotty municipality, the Congress has joined hands with other anti-IUML forces in most places. When the Congress has nothing much to lose from the current dispensation, the IUML has a lot at stake.
The League chose not to yield to the Congress demand in places where the former is strong on its own. It yielded to the Congress in certain places to prevent fissures in the front. For example, in Malappuram block panchayat, where there was no opposition to the UDF, the IUML has given four seats to the Congress against last year’s two.
The cordiality between the two parties in Malappuram appears too facile with the Congress and League leaders saying “it will not affect their relations” and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy hugging IUML chief Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal at his house on Tuesday.
Top Congress leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala campaigned across the district on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they carefully evaded the places where the party takes on the IUML.
IUML leaders said they parted ways with the Congress in two dozen local bodies because of the latter’s “higher demands.”
The number of panchayats crossing the swords with the Congress would have been more than 40 had the League not yielded to the UDF partner’s demands, said a senior IUML leader.
“There is nothing serious here. The UDF is united. People are making stories according to their whims and fancies,” said Congress district chief E. Mohammed Kunhi.
IUML district secretary P. Abdul Hameed said the party would respond to the “unfortunate equations” after the elections. State leader P.K. Kunhalikutty too echoed the same.
IUML leaders here are viewing the Chief Minister’s statement welcoming CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan’s comments that the League was not a communal party as an appeasement.
