OICC members distributing sweets after the recent election victory in Kerala at Apsara Restaurant, Al Khobar. (SG photos by Faisal Aboobacker Ponnani)The Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC), a well-known Indian expatriate organization and KMCC (Kerala Muslim Cultural Congress) celebrated the recent victory of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 13th assembly elections in Kerala state. The politically keen members of OICC and KMCC celebrated the win by distributing sweets and cakes among Indian expatriates living in the Eastern Province. OICC and KMCC are expatriate organizations that represent the present ruling party of the Indian National Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League. Most expatriates from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal were glued to their television sets Friday watching the live election result updates being broadcasted by Indian television channels. Many gathered at various Indian restaurants to watch and discuss the various political scenarios. P.M Najeeb, the OICC's President in the Eastern Province told Saudi Gazette that all OICC zone committee members congratulate the newly elected members. “We appreciate all those who elected our reputed leaders and have given them a good chance to rule in Kerala and bring it in to the top of all Indian states in terms of democracy and development,” he remarked. Najeeb added that the outgoing LDF government of V.S. Achuthananthan (outgoing Chief Minister of Kerala and the leader of the defeated Communist party) “wrecked havoc” in the past five years in Kerala by indulging in “intimidation, intolerance, preventing freedom of opinion, insulting opponents and spreading lies about them”. “Members of the public were forced into economic woes after the government of VS Achuthananthan frequently raised the prices of items needed on a daily basis. Jawad Moulavi, the Vice President of OICC, added that the victory of the UDF in Kerala is greatly appreciated and that “this is a real victory against an unjust government”. “The history of Communist parties across the world indicates that they cannot cope with the needs and wants of the public,” he said. “That is what happened in Kerala during the last five years of the Communist government. Minorities were afraid, the federal government's finds were not spent properly and mafia gangs – including the “lottery mafia” took the law in their hand. Moreover, V.S. Achuthananthan personally, was not able to sustain his reputation as a chief minister by insulting reputed opponents, including women, using unethical language.” Kadavanad Kunhimohammed, the General Secretary of KMCC, commented that the victory was overwhelming. Out of 24 candidates who stood for elections, 2o won with a huge majority of votes. They celebrated the historical success of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidates in the election by distributing food items and confectionaries tinted green with food color to represent the IUML party flag color. K.T.A. Muneer, the OICC's President in the Western Province said that they have already planned to celebrate the victory in various parts of Jeddah. “We thank the people, especially those NRIs who went for vacations during election time to participate in the campaign and to cast their vote and enable the UDF's victory,” he said.
