Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan on Friday strongly defended Congress ally and key UDF constituent Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), asserting that the party played a crucial role in the alliance’s electoral victory and acted as a significant barrier against communal forces in the state.
Addressing reporters, the Congress leader said attempts to portray the IUML as a communal outfit were aimed at creating divisions within Kerala’s society and political landscape.
The League, which had openly backed Satheesan for the chief minister’s post, has recently come under criticism from various quarters over its involvement in the leadership selection process.
Hitting out at the BJP, which has accused the IUML of interfering in the chief ministerial decision-making, Satheesan alleged that the saffron party was promoting hatred and divisive politics both nationally and within Kerala.
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“The League was targeted on communal grounds even during the election campaign. It is an important ally of both the Congress and the UDF and played a decisive role in our victory. The party has been associated with us since the days of veteran Congress leader and former chief minister K Karunakaran and continues to hold an important place in the alliance,” Satheesan said.
He further alleged that the criticism against the IUML was part of a deliberate campaign to sow discord in the state. “My question to the people of Kerala is this — if the IUML is weakened, who will fill that political space? Communal forces will occupy that vacuum. The League is a political force that prevents such a situation from arising. Those who oppose it should recognise this reality,” he emphasised.
Satheesan reiterated that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would never compromise with hatred or divisive politics and would continue to maintain a secular stance. “We did not compromise with communal forces during the elections, so why would we do so after the polls?” he asked. The CM-designate also declared that the UDF would not permit any attempt to divide Kerala society and would oppose such efforts at every level.
At the same time, he said he was open to personal criticism and political attacks, acknowledging that not everyone was expected to support or agree with him.“I welcome criticism and personal attacks because I do not expect everyone to like me. Wherever correction is needed, I will make it,” he said.
“However, communal campaigns should not be encouraged. We will not allow such divisive politics to spread in Kerala and destroy the unity and brotherhood shared by different communities in the state,” he added. Satheesan also confirmed that a meeting of the UDF would be held later in the day to discuss cabinet formation and other political matters in detail with alliance partners.
He said Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala, both of whom had earlier been considered contenders for the chief minister’s post, would attend the discussions along with other leaders from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
“After detailed discussions with everyone, a decision regarding the cabinet formation will be taken,” he said, adding that the new government would function as a collective team because “no one can do anything alone”.
Satheesan further said that he planned to visit Ramesh Chennithala later in the day, referring to him respectfully as ‘my leader’.
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