Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051214880400.htm

Kerala - Others

IUML admits defeat, but says it is not forever

Staff Reporter

Kunhalikutty to examine his rout and make corrections

MALAPPURAM: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty has said that the landslide victory of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the State is the people's mandate against the UDF Government.

At a joint press conference with Education Minister E.T. Mohammed Basheer, the IUML leader admitted his party's defeat but said that would not be the end of the world.

"We admit failure. But no failure is forever. We will spring back with renewed verve," they said. Mr. Kunhalikutty said the party would make a thorough introspection for the humiliating defeat it suffered. He said the party would take the failure seriously, despite risking its top leaders in crucial seats.

"We took risk for the party," he said, adding that party, not a personal victory or loss, was the foremost concern for him.

They said the party had learned a lot from the Manjeri shock it got in the last general elections. It was that lesson that helped the Indian Union Muslim League to maintain its supremacy in all Assembly seats except Beypore under the Manjeri Lok Sabha constituency, they pointed out. They said giving a setback to the ruling Government was part of an ongoing trend in the State. "But no victory or defeat is permanent," they said.

Mr. Kunhalikutty said that his defeat in Kuttippuram too was part of that trend that favoured the LDF.