Sudheeran gets IUML support over bars

Thiruvananthapuram, May 6 (IANS) The IUML has extended support to state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran who was finding the going tough in his party over his decision to put the brakes on the opening of 418 bars in Kerala.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is the second biggest ally of the Oommen Chandy-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the state.

Senior leader and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty Tuesday said his party will strongly back any decision to close down "at least one bar" in the state.

"First, let the Congress party come out with a decision on the bar issue and then we will make our position clear in the UDF meeting," said Kunhalikutty.

Daggers have been drawn in the Congress over the strong stand taken by Sudheeran following which the otherwise automatic annual renewal of the 752 bar licences in the state has not happened ahead of the start of the new fiscal.

Consequently, 418 bars were not allowed renewal of their licence as a CAG report indicated there was poor infrastructure.

In the Congress, Sudheeran appears to be a loner on this issue as he has the support of very few among his party men.

A senior woman leader Shanimol Usman is in trouble for challenging his style of functioning and she has now been branded as an agent of a liquor-support lobby.

Meanwhile, the other allies of the Congress, especially the Kerala Congress (Mani) is also in favour of following the already accepted policy of automatic renewal as has been the practice all these years.

However, the Catholic church has all along advocated an anti-liquor stand. The Church-backed KC (Mani) is also keeping silent and is now waiting for the Congress to come forth with a solution.

Sudheeran, at his party meeting held last month, was able to pressurise the Chandy government to come out with a massive anti-liquor campaign.

His tough stand comes at a time when the state recorded a record turnover of Rs.9,300 crore in sales of liquor and beer last fiscal, up from Rs.8,818 crore during 2012-13.

State Excise Minister K. Babu, however, is maintaining silence as he knows that any move he makes would likely backfire. He told the media his astrologer has asked him not to make any statement.