Kunhalikutty to enter fray for Lok Sabha? IUML undecided on demand for third seat

MALAPPURAM: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) All India General Secretary PK Kunhalikutty will not contest the Lok Sabha elections. Kunhalikutty clarified that there is no place for rumors and that he will not contest. Kunhalikutty said that after the party meeting, he will inform where the league will demand an additional seat.

Kunhalikutty said that Sadiq Ali will decide the candidate selection in Kerala and the number of seats has not been decided. Although the argument that the IUML is entitled to a third Lok Sabha seat is strong, the League feels that such a demand should not be pursued in the current situation.

Congress needs to have the maximum number of MPs in national politics. At such a stage, if the league goes ahead with the demand for a third seat, the party assesses that the BJP will take advantage of the opportunity, just like the fifth minister controversy during the Oommen Chandy government.

Although Kunhalikutty contested for the Lok Sabha twice before, there is no reason to contest this time, according to the assessment within the league. When there was a vacancy in Malappuram following the death of E Ahmed, Kunhalikutty contested from Malappuram and won the by-election and then the 2019 general election.

Later, when the assembly elections came in 2021, he resigned from the post of MP and contested in Vengara. Kunhalikutty's decision to resign as an MLA and run for the Lok Sabha and as an MP for the Legislative Assembly was strongly criticized at that time.