Split in UDF over liquor policy; Muraleedharan supports Shibu Baby John’s view

Thiruvananthapuram: Putting the UDF in more embarrassment over its stand on the recently decaled liquor policy of the LDF government, party leader K Muraleedharan on Saturday said he agreed with the views of RSP leader Shibu Baby Joh.

“There is n need of more discussions on whether the UDF liquor policy was a success or not. The Front was taken to Cantonment House from Cliff House all because of the policy,” Muraleedharan said.

“I personally agree with the views of Shibu Baby John in this matter. However, the UDF should hold protests against the LDF’s liquor policy. I would stand with the UDF no matter what its decision in the matter is,” he added.

The new liquor policy unveiled by the LDF government on Friday found an unlikely admirer in RSP leader Shibu Baby John even as the UDF brass went into a huddle to chalk out strategies to counter it.

In a Facebook post barely hours before the UDF brainstorming, Shibu hailed the LDF’s liquor policy. “The LDF policy has set right a mistake. My personal stand is it is a welcome decision as far as the state is concerned,” he said.

The RSP, however, dissociated itself from Shibu’s views terming them personal. It also vowed to stick to the UDF’s stated position on the issue.

Asked about the RSP leader’s Facebook post, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had said it was the former’s personal view.