Chennai: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Saturday announced it was ending its long-standing ties with DMK that endured through multiple elections in Tamil Nadu. IUML national president Kader Mohideen thanked chief minister C Joseph Vijay for accommodating IUML in his cabinet.The decision to quit DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance was taken at the party’s general council meeting held in Chennai. The move comes just a month after Vijay formed govt after the assembly election. IUML, which won the two seats it contested on DMK symbol (Papanasam and Vaniyambadi), chose to align with TVK after the election.A total of 14 resolutions were passed at the IUMLgeneral council meeting, the last one to quit DMK alliance. The resolutions stated that IUML is part of TVK govt and in the prevailing political situation, it could not travel in DMK alliance.After the meeting, Kader Mohideen told the press the decision to join TVK was taken after discussing with DMK president M K Stalin. “We approached Stalin and conveyed to him our decision on joining TVK. We (IUML) discussed with Stalin several times before extending our support to TVK,” said Mohideen. “We informed him that if we don’t support TVK, there would be president’s rule and indirectly BJP rule in TN. IUML shouldn’t become the reason for such a scenario and, hence, we extended support to TVK,” he said.Kader Mohideen thanked Vijay for making IUML MLA A M Shahjahan minorities welfare minister. “Though we have extended unconditional support to TVK, they gave cabinet berth to us, which we didn’t demand. We joined the cabinet after much discussion and deliberation. We thank Vijay for giving the cabinet berth,” Kader Mohideen said.Asked about IUML’s stand in the upcoming bypolls, Kader Mohideen indicated that it would support TVK. “IUML is part of govt and we wish that the good work by TVK govt should continue. Henceforth, we will cooperate with TVK govt in not just byelections but local body elections as well and hence the decision (to quit DMK alliance),” Kader Mohideen said.The IUML national president said they didn’t have the opportunity in the past to contest for Mayor and municipal chairman posts but in TVK govt, IUML will try its best to get such posts and contest in the local body elections.Asked about criticism from DMK, Kader Mohideen said DMK functionaries were IUML’s friends and hence the party did not mind the criticism.
