Won’t let hate campaigns gain ground, IUML a key UDF ally, says Satheesan

T'puram/Kozhikode: Chief minister-designate V D Satheesan on Friday hit out at the communal and hate campaigns against IUML, saying the party was a key constituent of UDF that played a decisive role in front's electoral victory. Satheesan said IUML had been with UDF since K Karunakaran's time and alleged that attempts were being made to isolate the party through hate campaigns aimed at creating divisions in society."If IUML is weakened, communal forces will occupy that space. IUML is a political force that resists such tendencies," he said. Those opposing League should understand this reality, he added. Satheesan said there would be no compromise against hate campaigns and reiterated that UDF would remain firm for secularism. He asserted the coalition didn't compromise with communalism even during the election campaign. "We will not permit any force to destroy the harmony in Kerala where future generations should live together peacefully. We will oppose such attempts at any cost," he said.He said criticism against him personally from community organisations or individuals was acceptable but warned against the spread of communal rhetoric. He accused BJP of spreading hatred at national and state levels to divide people. "What Kerala told the country through this election is that ours is a secular state," he said.‘No IUML pressure in CM pick'Amid criticism from BJP and NSS over the alleged role of IUML in Congress' decision to appoint V D Satheesan as the new chief minister, Panakkad Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal said his party had neither exerted pressure nor tried to influence the decision. He said IUML had neither proposed a candidate nor suggested any name for the CM's post. He added that Congress leadership took the decision after extensive discussions and consultations."Congress high command assessed the situation accurately. AICC observers came here, met individual leaders and held discussions before submitting their report. The decision to appoint Satheesan came after such an elaborate consultative process. We see it primarily as recognition of his performance as the opposition leader," he said.Thangal said Satheesan had played a key role in highlighting the anti-incumbency sentiment against LDF govt and had led UDF in the recent byelections. "Recognizing his leadership and capability, AICC took this decision," he said.Responding to BJP-NSS criticism, he said attempts were underway to create a false narrative even if IUML remained silent on the issue. "A narrative is being created that Satheesan was chosen as the CM at the insistence of IUML. The entire state of Kerala voted in this election. There was a strong anti-govt sentiment across the state and Satheesan stood at the forefront of that campaign. Everyone has seen the way he performed. UDF won 102 seats because all sections voted for the front. Nobody can become the CM by considering the interests of one community alone and people of the state recognized it," he said.Thangal reiterated that IUML had neither exerted pressure nor tried to influence the decision to elevate Satheesan and maintained that the decision reflected both public sentiment and the Congress party's internal consultations.