Kochi/Kozhikode, 03 January,(HS): Muslim League, the second biggest constituent of the United Democratic Front (UDF) after the Congress has demanded more seats in the upcoming assembly election, according to Sadikali Shihab Thangal, president, Muslim League.

“We have proved our supremacy and strength in the election held to Local Self Government Institutions. The results prove that we are eligible for more number of seats than we were allocated in the 2021 assembly election,” said Thangal while speaking to a pro-CPI(M) news channel owned by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, president, Kerala BJP.

Thangal also wanted the expansion of the UDF by bringing in more political outfits. He was for including the Kerala Congress (Mani) faction, presently in the CPI(M) camp in the UDF. It is an open secret that Jose K Mani, leader of the KC (M), is not happy in the LDF and looking for an opportunity to jump ship and join the UDF.

Thangal also said that Muslim League was looking for opportunities to contest in southern Kerala. The Muslim League is powerful in northern districts like Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. “We have pockets of influence in many districts in southern Kerala and will ask for seats in the region,” said Thangal.

Thangal’s disclosure that the Muslim League would ask for more seats in the assembly poll is in stark contrast to what P K Kunhalikutty, national general secretary of the Muslim League had told five days ago while speaking to reporters at Kozhikode.

Kunhalikutty said Muslim League is a party that would not demand more seats in assembly polls just because we performed well in the local body elections and increased vote share. We are not a party that tries to cash in on every opportunity. A decent political approach has always been our tradition. There is no dispute that the party will get what it deserves. But Muslim League will not try to take undue advantage just because our vote share has gone up, said Kunhalikutty.

Muslim League had contested 25 seats and won 15 seats in the 2021 assembly election. The Congress which had contested 93 seats finished with 22 seats and the Muslim League is justified in asking its pound of flesh.

Interestingly, the Muslim League’s top leaders are in direct talks with Congress High Command. Since Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the member of parliament representing Wayanad, a Muslim stronghold, chances of the Gandhi clan yielding to the demands of Muslim League have brightened.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti