Industry minister P.K. Kunhalikutty has given Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state president Panakkad Syed Muhammadali Shihab Thangal a letter expressing his willingness to resign from the state ministry.Kunhalikutty addressed a news conference at Thangal’s Kodappanakkal residence at Panakkad here, and said he had handed over the letter on December 24. Party worker C.P. Saidalavi read out the letter at the news conference.Thangal said a decision would be taken at the IUML working committee meeting in Kozhikode on January 1.Kunhalikutty wrote in his letter that he was resigning from the post as he found it difficult to hold the posts of minister and party secretary simultaneously. ‘‘I had communicated my difficulties earlier to you (Thangal) on holding two positions, that of the minister’s and of the party secretary, at a time. But the party council meeting, convened in Kozhikode later, asked me to continue with both the responsibilities and now I am requesting you to reconsider that decision once again,’’ the letter said.The minister expressed his respect for the party decision, which justified his stand not to resign from the minister’s post.Saying that he believed he should not continue as minister after allegations were raised for a second time, Kunhalikutty added that he had communicated his willingness to resign immediately on his return from Mecca after the ‘‘Umra’’. ‘‘My declaration at Karipur airport that I am going to live the rest of my life for the poor and the downtrodden in the community and that I am waiting for a word from Thangal, was along this line,’’ he said.
