Date:26/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052655350100.htm

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Ravi to meet Thangal today

Special Correspondent

Congress, IUML leaders play down differences, but Aryadan sticks to his guns

Thiruvananthapuram: With the relationship between the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Congress worsening in Malappuram district, the State leaders of each party played down the differences on Sunday.

While Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy emphasised the time-tested ties between the two parties and maintained that the United Democratic Front (UDF) was unaffected, Muslim League State general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty advised his party men not take a provocative line.

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Vayalar Ravi told The Hindu that he would intervene to sort out the differences and ensure that these did not upset the coalition. Mr. Ravi is expected to meet Muslim League State president Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal on Monday. However, Aryadan Mohammed, MLA for Nilambur in Malappuram district, has made it clear that he will not stop criticising the Muslim League.

The differences became open when Mr. Mohammed, in a recent speech, urged the Congress workers to take the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme seriously to gain a political breakthrough in the district that would force the Muslim League leadership to line up behind the Congress. The local Muslim League leaders did not take kindly to this.

Mr. Kunhalikutty and the former Minister E.T. Mohammed Basheer complained to Mr. Chandy and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala against Mr. Mohammed. At their meeting, it was decided to contain the issue at the local level.

However, no meaningful attempts have been made to settle the differences. Mr. Kunhalikutty kept away from some of the UDF campaigns against the State government, such as the recent picketing of the Secretariat.

The differences again came out in the open recently when Mr. Mohammed’s son, Aryadan Shoukat, who is Nilambur panchayat president, demanded an inquiry into the wealth of the Panakkad family. The Muslim League workers took to violence, attacking Congress offices in Nadapuram in Kozhikode district on Saturday night.