Kerala

Exercise restraint, Aryadan told

Smoothening ties: IUML State president Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal (seated) chatting with Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, Oommen Chandy and P.P. Thankachan before discussions at his house at Panakkad in Malappuram on Monday.

MALAPPURAM: The Congress leadership in the State has decided to smoothen its ties with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), its major partner in the United Democratic Front (UDF), by asking senior leader and MLA from Nilambur Aryadan Mohammed to exercise restraint in his comments.

The Congress also decided to reprimand Mr. Mohammed’s son Aryadan Shoukath for his recent statements against certain IUML leaders, which had strained the relations between the two parties in Malappuram district.

The IUML has expressed satisfaction at the Congress’ move to strengthen the UDF. Its leaders said improving the ties between the two parties would strengthen the UDF not only in Malappuram but in all other districts as well.

The Congress’ decision came after its leaders met IUML State president Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal at his Kodappanakkal house at Panakkad, near here, on Monday evening.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala; Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy; and UDF convener P.P. Thankachan held talks with the Thangal for about an hour, and resolved to work together to strengthen the front. IUML State general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty; district president Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal; and district general secretary K.P.A. Majeed also took part in the discussion.

After the meeting, the Congress leaders said that an action plan had been devised to strengthen the Congress-IUML ties in Malappuram.

A monitoring committee comprising leaders of the Congress and the IUML will ensure that the action plan is implemented in totality.

The action plan will have many provisos binding on both parties. The leaders will desist from making any statement against the interests of the other party or its leaders. Both parties would work towards strengthening the UDF, and they will honour the agreements made for exchange of seats and positions in local bodies.

Certain statements made by Mr. Aryadan Mohammed and his son allegedly belittling the IUML and its leaders had soured the relations between the Congress and the IUML in Malappuram.

The Congress leadership had to make rapprochement efforts by issuing a show-cause notice to Mr. Aryadan Shoukath (to which he replied last week), and holding talks with the IUML leadership.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu