IUML names P.V Abdul Wahab for RS poll

Panakkad: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has decided to nominate P.V Abdul Wahab as its candidate for elections to the Rajya Sabha from Kerala.

“The party has decided to nominate P.V Abdul Wahab as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election,” IUML president Hyderali Shihab Thangal announced Saturday after a meeting of the parlimentary party at Panakkad.

Talking to reporters, Abdul Wahab said it was a recognition for the activities that he had done during his last tenure as the Rajya Sabha member.

Industries Minister and senior IUML leader P.K Kunhalikutty said there was no dispute in the party over the issue.

“Wahab's name was cleared after all necessary procedures. There were no differences of opinion in the Muslim League regarding its candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll. It was only a media creation. President Hyderali Thangal’s decision is final in the party,” he said.

"The decision of our supreme leader Panakad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal is final and it was he who had made the announcement. We have the convention of giving the supreme leader the complete authority to make the decision," said former union minister E. Ahamed, a Lok Sabha member.

There were reports yesterday that IUML state general secretary K P A Majeed was the frontrunner for the seat as he could ensure support of the majority of leaders during the IUML working committee meeting. Majeed and IUML secretary P V Abdul Wahab were in the race for the post.

After the party’s State working committee meeting failed to reach a consensus, the leadership had entrusted party State unit president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal to take a final decision on the issue.

Rift within the party, the second largest partner in ruling UDF in Kerala, came to fore Friday after a facebook posting by Syed Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal, son of former state president Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal, against nominating Wahab for the post.

“The Rajya Sabha seat should be offered to a disciplined and service-minded political leader. This is the mood of the rank and file. The party had to pay a heavy price for fielding a businessman as candidate earlier. That decision had pained my father a lot. I hope a similar decision is not repeated,” he said.

Soon after the television channels began flashing his comment, he had removed the Facebook post.

Polls to the Rajya Sabha from Kerala will be held later this month for three vacancies caused due to the retirement of three upper house members.

The Congress has already chosen its senior leader Vayalar Ravi as the party's nominee.

The CPI-M has fielded youth leader K.K. Raghesh.