MALAPPURAM: IUML has declared sitting MPs P K Kunjalikkutty and E T Muhammed Basheer as their candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha election. They will contest from Ponnani and Malappuram constituencies. The state committee will declare the decision officially in the first week of Februarty. UDF will declare all their candidates contesting from 20 constituencies jointly. IUML general secretary P K Kunjalikkutty is interested to contest from Malappuram. E T Muhammed Basheer had received widespread appraisal for his speech in Lok Sabha during the triple talaq bill. ET’s popularity had seen a slight decline following his loss in majority. However, his stand and speech over the triple talaq bill in the Lok Sabha.

IUML is not interested in a battle with Congress for a third seat. Their demand for a fifth minister had faced a lot of backlash previously.

“IUML or the UDF has not discussed about a third seat. A decision can be taken only after a discussion”, said KPA Majeed, state general secretary of IUML.