MALAPPURAM: With the demise of Muslim League state president Panakkad Hyder Ali Shihab, the current district president Sadiqali Shihab may become the state president. Sadiqali has been handling the state president position for some time now due to Hyder Ali's illness.

55-year old Sadiqali, is the younger brother of Hyderali and a senior member of the Panakad family. He has been the District President of Malappuram since 2009. He was the state president of the Youth League from 2000 to 2007. He was the State President of Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) for 15 years. Although some of the Panakad family members are interested in becoming the state president, Sadiqali is likely to become the president himself.

The Panakkad family has been heading the Muslim League for half a century. Sadiqali will be nomintaed as president and it will then be approved by the State Working Committee and the Council.