The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has stated that, despite having the right to the deputy chief minister post in a UDF government, it will not make a demand for it.
IUML secretary Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal said the party has had a deputy chief minister in the past and deserves the post, but will not negotiate for it at present.
This statement comes after voters in Kerala went to the polls to elect a new government in the state, with the Congress and IUML claiming they would win over 100 seats in the 140-seat assembly.
IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty stated that the party declined the deputy chief minister post when Oommen Chandy of the Congress offered it between 2011 and 2016, considering the social dynamics at the time.
The IUML has been reluctant to make a strident demand for the deputy chief minister post to prevent falling into the narrative of the Left parties and the BJP that it controls the UDF coalition instead of the Congress.
