The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has been a longtime partner of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala. It is also a member of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance. In recent days, the IUML’s relationship with the Congress has come under strain over various issues, even as the CPI(M) tries to woo it away from the UDF, and the BJP launches constant attacks on it. Kerala IUML president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Thangal speaks to The Indian Express about the perception that the Congress is going soft on its Citizenship (Amendment) Act stand, its relationship with the party, the CPI(M)’s outreach to Muslim groups, and the recent The Kerala Story controversy. Excerpts: