IUML announces candidates; Kunhalikutty to contest from Malappuram

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Tuesday announced its candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled on April 9. Of the 27 seats the party is contesting as a constituent of the United Democratic Front (UDF), 25 candidates were announced by State president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at his residence at Panakkad.

Nearly half of the nominees are new faces, including several youngsters. Mr. Thangal said the party had given importance to youth representation while preparing the list. IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty will contest from Malappuram, while K.M. Shaji has been fielded from Vengara, a seat vacated by Mr. Kunhalikutty.

List of IUML candidates:

A.K.M. Ashraf — Manjeswaram

Kallatra Mahin Haji — Kasargod

Kareem Cheleri — Azheekode

Jayanthi Rajan — Koothuparamba

Parakkal Abdulla — Kuttiyadi

Fatima Tahilia — Perambra

Kasim Koodarinji — Thiruvambadi

P.K. Firoz — Koduvally

Razak Master — Kunnamangalam

Faizal Babu — Kozhikode South

T.V. Ibrahim — Vallikkunnu

T.P. Ashraf Ali — Kondotty

M. Rahmatulla — Manjeri

P.K. Basheer — Eranad

P.K. Kunhalikutty — Malappuram

Manjalamkuzhi Ali — Mankada

Najeeb Kanthapuram — Perinthalmanna

K.M. Shaji — Vengara

Abid Husain Thangal — Kottakkal

Kurukkoli Moideen — Tirur

P.K. Navas — Tanur

P.M.A. Sameer — Tirurangadi

N. Shamsudheen — Mannarkkad

C.H. Rasheed — Guruvayur

V.E. Abdul Gafoor — Kalamassery

Mr. Thangal said that candidates for Punalur and Chelakkara would be announced within two days. A final decision is yet to be taken on whether the party will contest from Punalur or Chadayamangalam.

He also said that IUML State general secretary P.M.A. Salam and Malappuram district general secretary P. Abdul Hameed had opted out of the electoral fray.

Among the IUML’s sitting MLAs, K.P.A. Majeed, M.K. Muneer, P. Abdul Hameed, N.A. Nellikkunnu, P. Ubaidullah and U.A. Latheef have been dropped from the list of candidates.