Chennai, March 06: The four additional seats in Malappuram district have become the bone of contention between the Indian Union Muslim League and the Congress in the seat-sharing exercises now on in the run up to the April 13 Assembly elections.
Leaders of the parties are now holding marathon discussions at various levels to work out a formula to amicably settle the issue. The leaders, during the first round of talks in Kozhikode, have come to a general consensus on the number of seats the IUML will contest this time.
According to informed sources, the IUML will contest 23 seats as per the understanding arrived at the talks. The IUML leadership is keen on contesting more number of seats this time in Malabar.
The party, according to sources, is willing to give up its claim at Eravipuram in Kollam and Guruvayur in Thrissur. The IUML initially staked its claim for all the four additional seats in Malappuram but was not averse to settling for three. The new Assembly segments of Vengara, Vallikunnu, Tavanur and Ernad came into existence following the delimitation of constituencies.
The Congress leaders have expressed their inability to concede more than two out of the four additional seats and want to contest Tavanur and Vallikunnu. The IUML and Congress leaders are however cautious in their statements regarding seat sharing, promising to sort differences in the next rounds of discussions.
But the leaders of the two parties admit to hiccups in deciding the formula to share the additional seats that have come into being after delimitation.
The IUML’s attempts to firm up its position in Malabar should be viewed in the context of the party’s strategy to consolidate its hold on the State’s Muslim politics.
For the last two years, the IUML has been playing an important role in bringing the various Muslim organisations under its umbrella.
This process was going in full swing till the new round of allegations in the ice-cream parlour sex scandal case, giving a temporary setback to its leader P.K. Kunhalikutty, who has been the key man trying to sew up a clear mandate for his party in Malabar’s Muslim politics. The massive rally in Kozhikode slated to be held on Sunday is an attempt to show its strength in the area.
The attempt of the Congress leaders in the current round of discussions is to ensure that Mr. Kunhalikutty’s position is strengthened. But they are also concerned about the adverse impact it will have on the neighbouring constituencies if the IUML were to contest in all the four additional seats in Malappuram.
The Congress perceives that it is better placed to contest in Thavanur and Vallikkunu. Even while accepting the pre-dominant position of the IUML in Malappuram, the Congress has urged the IUML to climb down on its demand. The IUML leaders appear to have departed from the usual style of practising brinkmanship to get their demands conceded.
One major issue that has not yet come up for discussion is the status of the IUML. So far, it had been enjoying the status of the second largest party in the UDF. “This is an issue that can be settled only after the election results are out. At present, we are concentrating on sorting out issues related to seat-sharing in a very cordial and amicable manner,” a senior IUML leader said.
–Agencies