Leaders of various parties, including Congress, and community outfits attacked Ebrahim Kunju for his reported statement that Muslim League is ruling the state.
Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Johny Nelloor said that no single party can dictate terms within the UDF.
“Muslim League is the second largest party after Congress, but there are nine big and small constituents in the front as also a few political parties with no MLAs. No decision is taken arbitrarily but in consultation with other members of the UDF,” he said and added that he was unaware under which context did the minister make such a statement.
Kerala Congress (M) chairman and Finance Minister KM Mani said all parties have equal importance in the UDF and they have freedom to air their respective views.
“Presently, the UDF is moving forward unitedly,” he said. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala tried to douse the issue stating that there is nothing wrong in the statement of Ebrahim Kunju. IUML is an integral part of UDF, he said.
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan MLA said that in a coalition government, such statements should not be made by a constituent partner as it would derail the government. According to KC(B) chairman R Balakrishna Pillai, Ebrahim Kunju’s speech is not surprising as no other constituent partners are given enough importance in the UDF.
“It is IUML that is running the show and it is in this context that the minister must have come up with such a statement,” he said. Opposition parties, including the CPM, CPI and BJP, condemned Ebrahim Kunju’s statement saying that this would create communal imbalance in the state. CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said Ebrahim Kunju’s opinion reflected the power enjoyed by IUML in the ruling UDF.
BJP state president V Muraleedharan said: “Statements like these will disrupt the communal harmony in the state and the minister should tender an apology.”
CPI leader C Divakaran felt it was now up to the Congress leadership to clarify on the statement made by the IUML leader.
CM, KPCC Chief must clarify: Vellappally
ALAPPUZHA: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has said that the Chief Minister and the KPCC president should reply to the comments of Public Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju about the influence of the IUML in the functioning of the state government.
The SNDP and other organisations had earlier realised that the League was controlling the government in the state. However, the Chief Minister and other leaders ignored our words. But now the revelations of Ebrahim Kunju has made it clear that the Muslim League is controlling the government.
The Chief Minister and the KPCC president have let the League to function without any rein, Vellappally said. He said that Ebrahim Kunju won the elections after raising the secular card.
“So, he should follow the secular path. After the victory, the League ministers are playing the communal card. The minority- affluent persons in the League are amassing wealth, and thus jeopardising the social justice,” Vellappally said.
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