KOZHIKODE: The imbroglio in the IUML over the fifth ministerial berth is the result of P K Kunhalikutty’s protracted attempts to corner M K Muneer ever since the Assembly polls in May 2011, feel the majority of IUML leaders as well as activists in Kozhikode.According to sources, Kunhalikutty’s tricky politics to keep Muneer off the Cabinet has landed party supremo Panakad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal and the workers in trouble.Sources close to M K Muneer said, “Right from the moment of fixing candidates for the Assembly polls, it is evident. Initially, Muneer decided not to join the Cabinet and told Kunhalikutty about it. Delighted by Muneer’s decision, Kunhalikutty, who was then the party state general secretary, prepared a list of four ministers with Manjalamkuzhi Ali as the fourth minister. However, Hyderali Thangal and Oommen Chandy opposed the omission of Muneer and pressed for his inclusion. But Thangal announced the name of the fifth minister following Kunhalikutty’s assurance that the Congress had agreed to give a fifth ministerial berth.’’Sources maintained that it was a ‘strategic mistake’ by Kunhalikutty. “He has a habit of making adjustments at the last moment. These moves were also put together in haste and he might have thought that everything will settle down as always. However, other leaders of the party, including Thangal, stuck to their stance,’’ said an IUML district leader.IUML leaders in Kozhikode also expressed doubts that the proposed ‘Speaker formula for IUML’ was launched by none other than Kunhalikutty himself.“Such a formula was never discussed in IUML meetings. We strongly believe that the campaign was kickstarted by Kunhalikutty himself to put an end to this row and also, in a way, targeting Muneer’s presence in the Cabinet by putting pressure on him to accept the Speaker post,’’ he said.“We have been told by Muneer that he won’t be accepting the Speaker post and will continue as the MLA if there is pressure from the party leadership,’’ sources said.
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