CPI-M out to exploit religious sentiments: IUML

Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty on Friday alleged the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist's moves to forge an electoral alliance with Abdul Naser Madhani led People's Democratic Party in Kerala indicated its determination to "exploit" religious sentiments to reap political mileage.

The prolonged seat sharing row the CPI-M had with the major Left Democratic Front partners indicated that the CPI-M leadership preferred the company of Madhani "whose party is accused of promoting communalism more than anybody else, Kunhalikutty said, inaugurating an election convention of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kannur.

Maintaining that his party always strived for upholding secularism, Kunhalikutty claimed that Congress alone could protect the diverse culture of the country. On the Left party's move to float a third alternative, he said many of the constituents of the front were fence sitters and could take independent stand after the polls.

The presence of expelled CPI-M MP A P Abdulla Kutty at the convention provided great enthusiasm among the largely attended audience who applauded him for joining the UDFcampaign trail. Kutty said his open remarks against hartals and agitations followed after witnessing sustained and allround economic activities outside his home state. It was CPI-M stalwarts like Jyoti Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjeet impressed him the need to support Congress to keep the BJP away from power.