3 weeks ago
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Kerala’s Chief Minister-designate, V D Satheesan, connected Sunday (May 17, 2026) sought to dispel what helium termed arsenic “hate propaganda” targeting the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a cardinal United Democratic Front (UDF) ally.
Flanked by IUML’s apical leadership, including the party’s State president, Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and nationalist wide secretary, P.K. Kunhalikutty, Mr. Satheesan said helium would antagonistic attempts to represent the IUML arsenic an anti-secular outfit with a “prompt, beardown and fitting reply”. He said the UDF authorities would not let immoderate entity to make societal schisms successful Kerala.
“Such intrigue to disagreement Kerala’s secular polity from immoderate 4th volition beryllium met strongly. We had efficaciously countered the anti-minority communicative during the Assembly predetermination campaign. People of Kerala had rejected the divisive communicative and talented the UDF a historical win. The authorities volition uphold the mandate to insulate Kerala from immoderate effort to disagreement it connected communal lines”, helium added.
Mr. Satheesan had called connected the IUML’s enactment aft its parliamentary party, comprising 22 MLA elects, convened successful Thiruvananthapuram nether the aegis of Mr Thangal to sermon the party’s relation successful the UDF cabinet.
Mr. Satheesan said IUML “baiters” should recognise the party’s historical relation arsenic a secular and stabilising force. “Thangal family’s relation successful stressing secularism and communal amity had cushioned the societal fallout of the demolition of the Babri Masjid successful 1992”, helium said.
Mr. Satheesan said IUML showed steadiness successful upholding secularism and bringing communities unneurotic successful the “Munambam and Palluruthy issues”.
Mr. Satheesan was referring to the societal tensions that broke retired pursuing the quality betwixt the Waqf Board and 600 predominantly Christian families implicit 400 acres of a coastal neighbourhood successful the Ernakulam territory during the 2024-25 period.
Mr. Satheesan said the IUML was instrumental successful protecting the ownership and gross rights of Munambam residents. He besides referred to the IUML’s relation successful restoring harmony aft a Catholic-run schoolhouse astatine Palluruthy expelled a pupil aft her household insisted that their ward deterioration hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women, to screen their heads arsenic portion of a spiritual code.
“I invitation those who question to represent the IUML arsenic anti-secular to contemplate the fundamentalist forces that would person travel to the fore if not for the League leadership”, helium said.
Mr. Thangal sought to reciprocate Mr Satheesan’s connection by declaring full enactment for the Chief Minister-designate. “Finally, Kerala has got the person it deserves”, helium added.
Both leaders demurred erstwhile asked whether IUML would get 5 ministerial berths. “You (journalists) volition beryllium the archetypal to cognize earlier I conscionable the Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlerkar to taxable the database of Ministers who volition beryllium sworn successful on with maine connected Monday”, Mr. Satheesan said.
Mr. Satheesan said authorities enactment talks had “passed an important stage” and determination was nary roadblock to naming the cabinet. “UDF worked arsenic a team. We had nary disputes erstwhile finalising spot sharing. The aforesaid tone volition endure erstwhile UDF finalises its cabinet”, helium said.
