KOZHIKODE: Munavarali Shihab Thangal, 39, has been elected as the state president of the Muslim Youth League (MYL), Najeeb Kanthapuram is new senior vice president and P.K. Firoz, the state general secretary. The scion of Thangal family, entered the fray in the last minute when two groups were rooting for P.K. Firoz and Najeeb Kanthapuram respectively for the post of president. Munavarali is the younger son of late Mohammad Ali Shihab Thangal, the former president of IUML. His name was recommended by Malappuram district committee. Munavarali holds an under graduate degree in English literature and Islamic Studies and is an avid traveller and social media user.
He was not linked to any group in the IUML, but had opposed P.K. Kunjalikutty when the latter was mired in controversies including ice-cream parlour case. Last year, his Facebook post against giving the Rajya Sabha seat to P.V. Abdul Vahab had stirred the hornet’s nest. At present, Munavarali is the state council member of youth league and is involved in many religious and philanthropic activities. He is the managing director of Ann Ahda an Arabic magazine published from Kottakkal and runs the Sign Institute of Social Leadership in Wayanad.
Sources said he imbibes his late father's characteristics in trying to find consensus and is inclusive. “Munavarali is the best available person from the Thangal family. He is noted for his ties with scholarly persons, educated and has knowledge over things going around globally,” a source in IUML said. E.T. Mohammad Basheer MP and T.A. Ahamad Kabeer MLA enjoys good rapport with him. Social critic M.N. Karasserry felt that Munavarali Shihab Thangal is comparatively progressive. “I presume he is open minded. He should understand that youth league does not consist of only men,” said Mr Karasserry. Speaking to DC, Munavarali said that his priority is to take the youth wing of IUML forward with the support of everyone.
