CPI(M) central committee member Elamaram Kareem, MP, has refuted media reports about Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel forming a new political party called Indian Secular League to take on the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
At a time when the CPI(M) was expanding its influence among the minority communities in Kerala, there was no need to form a separate Left secular party for them, he told a news conference here on Saturday.
Mr. Kareem said that Mr. Jaleel himself had denied it. The CPI(M) leader said that discussions to expand the Left Democratic Front (LDF) were on and the Indian National League (INL) “will not be abandoned.”
Mr. Jaleel, elected from the Thavanur Assembly constituency in Malappuram district as a CPI(M) Independent, is set to leave his Local Administration portfolio to take over the Higher Education Department in the upcoming reshuffle of the State Cabinet. It is to mainly take back E.P. Jayarajan, who had been forced to step down as Industries Minister following a corruption charge.
Asked about the timing of re-entry of Mr. Jayarajan into the State Cabinet, Mr. Kareem said that the party took a decision to that effect in view of the conducive political atmosphere. He said the bifurcation of the Education Department had happened some time ago and it was also aimed at utilising Mr. Jaleel's skills in a better way.
Mr. Kareem clarified that the CPI(M) would not ally with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) anywhere in the State. He said the party had taken action against those who had attempted to do so in local bodies in Malappuram district. Mr. Kareem said the LDF had joined hands with the United Democratic Front (UDF) in grama panchayats such as Enmakaje in Kasaragod district just to keep the BJP out of power.
Mr. Kareem alleged that the Union government was not releasing funds for development projects in the State. Projects such as the Kanjikode rail factory for which even land had been acquired were being shelved midway, he added.