Malappuram: Muslim League has picked national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty as its candidate for Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election on April 12, necessitated by the death of Mr E Ahmed.
Announcing the much-anticipated decision after the League parliamentary party meeting at his residence at Panakkad, party supremo Hyderali Shihab Thangal Malappuram:...said on Wednesday: “Kunhalikutty’s elevation to the national scene will not affect the state unit of party or the UDF. He will continue to play a major role in state politics”.
Results will be declared on April 17.
Mr Kunhalikutty will file the nomination after the UDF convention on Monday. His foray into national scene comes after four decades of active politics in the State. He will have to don the mantle of Mr Ahmed, who used to be the most visible Muslim face from the south.
But Mr Kunhalikutty’s decision had caught many by surprise and even former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was dismayed by the front-ranking politicians’ decision at a time when the Congress-led UDF is trying to emerge as a strong opposition to the Pinarayi Vijayan dispensation.
Possibly it may have to do with Mr Kunhalikutty’s discomfiture, evident in his reluctance to take on the Government on its lapses, follies and indiscretions during the past 10 months. His stand betrays a ‘soft’ approach to Mr Vijayan, with whom he has had the best of relations for decades. Mr Kunhalikutty’s political career would have ended by now but for this abiding relationship.
The dominant faction, led by Mr Vijayan, always used to have a different take on the ice cream parlour scandal unlike the party veteran, Mr V S Achuthanandan, who still pursues the case in the Supreme Court.
In July, Mr Achuthanandan slammed the LDF Government’s stand, endorsing the previous Chandy government’s opposition to a CBI inquiry into ice cream parlour case, citing technical reasons. He wanted justice for the two girls, who had died under mysterious circumstances. In many ways Mr Ahmed’s sudden death paves the way for Mr Kunhalikutty’s bailout from the State’s mundane politics.
Party leader K P A Majeed is reportedly a top contender for the Assembly contest in Vengara, which Mr Kunhalikutty will vacate after the election. The League will have to decide between Dr M K Muneer and Mr V K Ebrahim Kunju in the interim for the legislature party leader.
