M K Muneer elected Muslim League parliamentary party leader

MALAPPURAM: Former minister Dr. M.K. Muneer  has been  made the  legislature party leader of Indian Union Muslim League.   The League legislative party meeting on Saturday  elected  him in place of  Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty, who has won the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election. Mr  Muneer will also be the deputy leader of the  UDF in the Assembly.  The  meeting held at the residence of party state president Sayed Hyderali Shibah Thangal  also named senior leader V.K. Ibrahim Kunju as the deputy legislative party leader and Mr M. Ummer as the whip.  Mr T.A. Ahmed Kabeer is the secretary and Mr K.M. Shaji   treasurer.

 Former minister Ibrahim Kunju’s name was also considered along with that of Mr Muneer. However,  the election of Mr Muneer was  unanimous.  The party top leadership also held one-to-one meeting with all the 18 party legislators before finalising Mr Muneer’s name.   His  elevation to the post has cast a shadow over  party state general secretary K.P.A. Majeed’s chance  to  become  the candidate for the  Vengara by-election.   Though Mr Majeed’s name is being unofficially discussed,   he has ruled out the possibility and preferred to stay away from electoral politics.   The party did not discuss it on Saturday and said it will decide after the by-poll notification  is  issued.  Mr Kunhalikutty will  submit his resignation as  MLA on Thursday. The party would review the  Malappuram result at its state working committee meeting to be held in Kozhikode  on May 13.