The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has sought the support of the Kerala Congress(M) for its candidate K.N.A. Khader in the Vengara byelection.
The party leadership has written to Kerala Congress(M) chairman K.M. Mani requesting his party’s backing for Mr. Khader in the October 11 byelection.
IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed said he hoped that Mr. Mani would oblige. “We have always had cordial relations. We got the support of the Kerala Congress(M) in Malappuram, and now we have requested Mr. Mani for their help in Vengara as well,” he said. Mr. Mani had offered his backing to IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty when he contested from Malappuram in the April 12 Lok Sabha byelection.
Although the KC(M) had quit the United Democratic Front (UDF) over some issues with the Congress, the veteran politician from Pala maintained cordial relations with the IUML.
He had campaigned for Mr. Kunhalikutty in Malappuram in spite of his remaining out of the UDF.
The IUML is hopeful that Mr. Mani would support its candidate in Vengara. “We are hopeful that he (Mr.Mani) will come to Vengara and campaign for Mr. Khader,” said a senior IUML leader in charge of a panchayat in Vengara.
Mr. Khader said the byelection would be an evaluation of LDF government in the State. “The people of Vengara will give a fitting reply to the anti-people policies of the government,” he said. He blamed the government for trying to make liquor readily available across the State by upsetting the liquor policies of the UDF. “The government has gone to such an extent that liquor shops are coming up near educational and religious institutions,” he said.