MALAPPURAM/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although CPM's new stand that the Muslim League is not a communal party is a strategy to crack the UDF vote bank ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Muslim League is planning to use that remark as a pressure tactic to put an end to the war in the Congress. The League's calculation is to expand its influence in the UDF while maintaining a favourable political climate to move to the LDF. It will not reject the invitation of the CPM. Neither will it make any statement which provokes or depresses the CPM.

According to the Muslim League, the fight within the Congress is affecting the possibility of the UDF returning to power. The League also wants the Congress Political Affairs Committee meeting on Sunday in Kochi to seriously discuss this matter. The senior leaders of the League are of the view that it is better to remain in the UDF considering the communal factors and the presence of the BJP. The League will not receive the same acceptability in LDF as it does in UDF, the leaders claim, citing Congress (M) as an example. The League is also of the opinion that the decline of the Congress may lead to the growth of the BJP.

The League's estrangement from the Congress has deepened following KPCC president K Sudhakaran's pro-RSS statement. When the war in the name of Shashi Tharoor intensified, the League leadership also issued a warning to the Congress by stating that it will not remain as spectators if things move in such a way. There is deep discontent in the League over UDF's failure in coming back to power even after 5 years. The setbacks to the Congress at the national level are also forcing a group of League leaders to turn to the Left. The League is further disturbed by the assessment that the Congress will take a cold approach on the Uniform Civil Code as on the triple talaq bill.