KOZHIKODE: Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal was unanimously chosen as the new state president of IUML, continuing the nearly five-decade-old tradition of the patriarch of the Panakkad Kodappanakkal family becoming the state president of the party. The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's high power committee at Panakkad on Monday, a day after the demise of his elder brother Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal.
Announcing the decision, IUML national president Khader Moideen said Sadikali Thangal will also be the new chairman of the national political advisory committee of the party. Sadikali is the fourth person from the Kodappanakkal family to lead IUML, with his father PMSA Pookoya Thangal and two elder brothers -Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal and Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal- donning the mantle of political and spiritual leadership in the community.
Sadikali, who was born in 1964, made his foray to public life as state president of SKSSF, the student wing of Samastha Kerala Jem Iyyathul Ulema, the body of Sunni scholars. Later, he ventured into politics by becoming the state president of MYL in 2000 and was serving as the Malappuram president of IUML for the past 12 years. He was also a member of IUML's high power committee for the past four years.
His ascension comes at a crucial moment when the party is facing a host of challenges, especially IUML staying out of power for the second consecutive term in state. Also the party had to fight off calculated attempts by CPM to reach out to the Muslim minority community.
For instance, in the recent Waqf board appoint issue, CM Pinarayi Vijayan had held parleys with Samastha, following which its president Jifri Muthukoya Thangal took an independent line on the issue distancing itself from IUML's stir against the government on the issue.
Another challenge before Thangal is to ensure that various Muslim religious organizations, including Samastha, continues to accept IUML's leadership in community related matters. Sadikali Shihab Thangal is likely to adopt a more hands on leadership style given his nearly two decades of active role in IUML's affairs.
Sadikali Thangal told the media that his ascension was the continuation of a tradition and that he will lead the organization on the path shown by his predecessors. "Also, we have the task of taking the party forward in tune with contemporary society. Just like other parties, IUML will also have to address contemporary times, society and the new generation and we will do that while continuing to uphold the traditions and politics of IUML," he said.
