Former Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Karat Razak, who broke away and contested as an independent from Koduvalla with the support of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in 2016, formally rejoined the party on Sunday.
Mr. Razak renewed his membership after being received by IUML state president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at his residence in Panakkad. “I feel like going home,” he said. Recalling his past, he said that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) left him in the lurch after his victory in Koduvally in 2016 as an independent MLA and confirmed that he would give up all the posts offered by the LDF.
Reason for change
Once a loyal IUML leader, Mr Razak defected from the party after he was denied an Assembly ticket in 2011 and 2016. He narrowly won Koduvally in 2016 with LDF support, but lost to IUML’s MK Muneer in 2021 and has maintained a distance from the CPI(M) ever since.
“I have not made any conditions. I have faith in the Muslim League and its leaders like Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal, PK Kunhalikutty and MK Muneer. I will work harder for the party and make up for the losses of the last decade,” he said.
IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty said it was Mr Muneer and PK Firoz, state general secretary of the Muslim Youth League and current party candidate Koduvally, who took the initiative to bring back Mr Razak.
“Reverse Flow”
“The flow of leaders is now reversing. Earlier, the CPI(M) courted dejected UDF leaders, but now the trend is reversed,” Mr. Kunhalikutty said. He added that the return of Mr. Razak would boost the prospects of the IUML in Koduvally and neighboring Kunnamangalam.
Mr Muneer expressed satisfaction at seeing Mr Razak back in the party despite contesting against him in 2021. “I fought with Manjalamkuzhi Ali and now he is back in the party,” he said.
Published – 22 March 2026 21:23 IST
