Thiruvananthapuram: Cracks emerged within the ruling United Democratic Front in Kerala on Thursday as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) said it would contest from the Thiruvambady constituency in north Kerala.

The move goes against the spirit of an earlier deal that the constituency would be given to the Congress this time.

The IUML and Congress are the largest constituents of the UDF.

IUML leader and industry minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, said on Thursday “there is no need for a controversy over the Thiruvambady seat” since the party had already announced it would contest from there.

That has not gone down well with Congress members because of IUML’s earlier commitment that the seat would be given its ally.

The controversy was triggered after a letter came to light, which was written by Kunhalikutty to chief minister Oommen Chandy in 2011, assuring that the Thiruvambady seat would be given to the Congress to contest.

“I may have written many letters to the chief minister. In that case, I’ll sort it out with the chief minister. Thiruvambady is an IUML seat. Since a candidate has already been announced for the constituency, that letter need not be discussed”, Kunhalikutty said.

Local media reported that the deal was signed in Kozhikode in 2011 as per the wishes of the Catholic diocese of Thamarassery.

The reports said the bishop of Thamarassery and the then Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, Ramesh Chennithala were witnesses to the deal.

Under the terms of the deal, the Thamarassery diocese was reportedly keen to field a candidate under the banner of the Malayora Vikasana Samiti (High range development council). However, the IUML has now put paid to those plans by fielding its own candidate there.

Kunhalikutty said he would discuss the matter with Chandy and explain to the chief minister the reasons why his party was going against the terms of the deal.

The constituents of the UDF have also been unhappy with the manner in which IUML announced its candidates even before the UDF had decided on seat sharing for the assembly elections.