MALAPPURAM: Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani will campaign for the UDF for the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election on Sunday. He will address his party’s election convention in support of Muslim League candidate P.K. Kunhliakutty amid speculations that he may return to the UDF fold. Though the Kerala Congress has only a meagre presence in a few of the seven Assembly constituencies in the Malappuram LS segment, Mr Mani’s electioneering is seen as a first step of his possible return to the UDF. The convention will be attended by UDF MLAs and senior leaders in the district besides Mr Kunhalikutty and other senior Muslim League leaders. Mr Kuhalikutty had earlier made it clear that he would initiate talks in the UDF to bring Mr Mani back to its fold after the Malappuram by-poll.
At the same time, Mr Mani insisted that his support was not for the UDF, but for Mr Kunhalikutty. The Kerala Congress has only a scanty presence in Vallikunnu, Manjeri and Perinthalmanna Assembly constituencies. The party has no major vote share in Malappuram. “The Kerala Congress’s votes are not a determining factor for the UDF in the district in general and in the Malappuram LS constituency in particular. Mani’s support is something more than votes. His moral support for Kunhalikutty is welcome. He has clearly mentioned that the support was not for the UDF,” said district UDF convener and Muslim League district general secretary K.N.A Khader. He said that Muslim League leaders would also attend the event.
