Strains in ties: IUML to skip meeting with Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In signs of fresh strain with Congress, key ruling UDF partner IUML has decided to skip tomorrow's proposed talks between them to sort out internal issues.

The decision to skip the meet came a day after top IUML leaders held an emergency meeting in the wake of certain comments by KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala and other Congress leaders at a function in Kozhikode.

Reflecting their hard stand towards critics, the IUML leaders threw sufficient hints that more than the remarks of Chennithala, the party's sentiments have been ruffled by sharp digs by other Congress leaders like K Muraleedharan and Aryadan Muhammad, a state minister.

"As far as Chennithala is concerned, he has made it clear that his statements were misquoted and misinterpreted. But what about others? We (League) are not a drum hanging there for every passerby to bang," IUML state General Secretary K P A Majeed told reporters in Kozhikode.

Another party leader, E T Muhammad Basheer, said IUML leaders would not be attending the bilateral talks, scheduled earlier, holding that the prevailing situation was not conducive for such a meeting.

The UDF State Committee has last month decided to hold bilateral talks with IUML and Kerala Congress to discuss various internal issues.