Cong may now face minority hurdles

The growing significance of the Indian Union Muslim League and the Kerala Congress in the UDF would now force the Congress.

The growing significance of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Kerala Congress (Mani) in the UDF would now force the Congress to dance to the tune of minority politics in a state where the BJP could not win a single seat for want of Hindu consolidation.

Hindus form over half the states population. The IUML with 20 seats and Kerala Congress (Mani) with nine could make the going tough for the Congress,which has only 38 seats in the 72-strong UDF. Besides,of the six UDF partners,five parties would be led by Christians.

Both IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty and K M Mani are well-known for their maneuvering skills in coalition politics. The two parties had played a crucial role in wrecking the Congress government in 1995,raising the ISRO spy case.

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At the time of formation of governments in the past,both had exerted pressure on the Congress for plump portfolios and corner the spoils for their communities. In 2001,when the Congress had 62 seats,the IUML with 17 seats had bagged all key portfolios. The remaining high-profile departments were taken away by Kerala Congress (M),which had only nine seats.

Kunhalikutty said he would not bargain and exploit the weakness of the UDF,while T M Jacob of Kerala Congress (J) said all parties have the right to get Cabinet berths.