Trinamool leaders Mahua Moitra and Derek O’Brien meet IUML State president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at his house at Panakkad on Saturday.

Trinamool Congress national leaders Derek O’Brien, MP, and Mahua Moitra, MP, visited Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State President Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at his house at Panakkad near here on Saturday and held discussions with him.

The Trinamool MPs were in Kerala to attend a party meeting being organised at Manjeri on Sunday. Trinamool Congress State coordinator P.V. Anvar, who last month quit his Assembly membership as an LDF independent MLA of Nilambur, accompanied Mr. O’Brien and Ms. Moitra to Panakkad.

Mr. O’Brien said that meeting Mr. Thangal was such a pleasure that he would cherish the hospitality of the Syed Shihab family.

Mr. Thangal said that the meeting that lasted about half an hour was friendly and cordial. He said that the Trinamool was part of the INDIA front and that they discussed the current political scenario. However, he did not reveal what transpired in the meeting.

Mr. Anvar said that the Trinamool leaders were excited to meet with Mr. Thangal and experience his hospitality.

“They heard a lot about Panakkad and its legacy. And now they are here to witness and experience that legacy,” said Mr. Anvar.

The meeting to be held at Manjeri will be a test for Mr. Anvar to prove his popularity and relevance in front of the Trinamool leaders.

For the Trinamool Congress, Mr. Anvar is an entry point to Kerala. The meeting is expected to discuss major issues, including human-animal conflict, which are raised by both Mr. Anvar and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

The meet will discuss ways to address the issue and the need to amend the wildlife policies of central and State governments. They will also discuss in detail the policies that should be adopted by the Trinamool Congress in the Kerala and efforts to strengthen the party in every assembly constituency, said Mr. Anvar.