Malappuram, Saturday 18 December 2010: Manjalamkuzhi Ali, former CPM-backed MLA of Mankada, joined the IUML at a public function here on Friday evening.

The IUML had been ecstatic about Ali’s arrival into the UDF fold. IUML State president Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal inaugurated the function, which was delayed by an unexpected downpour.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Socialist Janata (Democratic) president M.P. Veerendrakumar were chief guests at the function. IUML leaders P.K. Kunhalikutty, M.K. Muneer, K.N.A. Khader, P.K. Abdu Rabb, P. Ubaidullah, Abdussamad Samadani, Umer Arakkal were present.

The UDF leaders were greeted with deafening cheers despite the showers which drenched the crowds and leaders alike. Ali accepted the primary membership of the IUML from Shihab Thangal, who welcomed him to the party with a symbolic hug.