MALAPPURAM: Former minister Dr. M.K. Muneer has been made the legislature party leader of Indian Union Muslim League. The League legislative party meeting on Saturday elected him in place of Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty, who has won the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election. Mr Muneer will also be the deputy leader of the UDF in the Assembly. The meeting held at the residence of party state president Sayed Hyderali Shibah Thangal also named senior leader V.K. Ibrahim Kunju as the deputy legislative party leader and Mr M. Ummer as the whip. Mr T.A. Ahmed Kabeer is the secretary and Mr K.M. Shaji treasurer.
Former minister Ibrahim Kunju’s name was also considered along with that of Mr Muneer. However, the election of Mr Muneer was unanimous. The party top leadership also held one-to-one meeting with all the 18 party legislators before finalising Mr Muneer’s name. His elevation to the post has cast a shadow over party state general secretary K.P.A. Majeed’s chance to become the candidate for the Vengara by-election. Though Mr Majeed’s name is being unofficially discussed, he has ruled out the possibility and preferred to stay away from electoral politics. The party did not discuss it on Saturday and said it will decide after the by-poll notification is issued. Mr Kunhalikutty will submit his resignation as MLA on Thursday. The party would review the Malappuram result at its state working committee meeting to be held in Kozhikode on May 13.
