Vengara hots up for by-election

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vengara Assembly seat being vacated by Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty will face a  by-election for which many are in the race. The prominent ones are  Muslim League general secretary K.P. A. Majeed, Abdurahman Randathani,  who was defeated in Tanur in the 2016  elections, and Kunhalikutty loyalist K. N. A. Khader. Majeed, 66,  has represented Mankada five times. Majeed  was also the chief whip during 1992 -96.   Two-time Muslim League MLA, K. N. A. Khader, who represented Vallikunnu,  was a CPI man earlier and the state secretary and president of AISF, the students wing of the CPI.  He was denied a  seat in the Assembly elections last year.

“Former Youth League president P. M. Sadiqali has   the blessings of the Thangal family.   But  Majeed too is a force to reckon with,”  said a Muslim League MLA. K.V. Abdul Khader of  the CPM had defeated Sadiqali by over 15, 000 votes in Guruvayur in  2016.  The Muslim League had contested  24 seats and won 18  losing Punalur (Younis Kunju),  Thanur (Abdurahman Randathani), Thiruvambady (V.M. Ummer Master), Balussery (U. C. Raman), Guruvayur (Sadiqali) and Koduvally (M.A. Razak Master).

Kunhalikutty who will contest the Malappuram Lok Sabha seat  has been trying for a national role and  wants to occupy the chair vacated by  E. Ahmed. He has kept a low profile against the LDF which had cornered him in the ice cream parlour case.     Kunhalikutty, who is now  Deputy Opposition Leader in the Assembly,  was unhappy with Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala as the Muslim League leadership had prferred  former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as Opposition Leder,”  said a  UDF leader. Kunhalikutty also never attacked the Left leaders in the Assembly, he said.