Kerala: The Indian Union Muslim League has elected Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal as its new state president. The decision came at a high power committee meeting held in Malappuram. His election follows the passing of his elder brother Syed Hyderali Shihab, who had led the party until Sunday.
Leaders confirmed that the IUML continued its tradition of choosing the head of the Panakkad family as state president. National president K. M. Kader Mohideen announced the decision after the meeting. Senior IUML leaders, including P. K. Kunhalikutty and E. T. Mohammed Basheer, attended the session along with members of the Panakkad Shihab family.
Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal brings long organisational experience. He has served as Malappuram district president since 2009. He became a member of the party’s high power committee in 2018 and chaired the disciplinary committee from 2016. The committee also elected him as chairman of the political advisory panel.
He has held leadership roles in several educational and charitable institutions. These include Jamia Nooriyya Arabic College in Pattikkad, Bafaqi Yatheem Khana in Valavannur, and Islamic centres across Kozhikode, Eramangalam, Ponnani, and Kadanchery. His early political work included leading the Sunni Students Federation and the Muslim Youth League in Kerala.
Born in 1964 as the fourth son of Syed P. M. S. A. Pookoya Thangal, he has been involved in community leadership for decades. He is married to Syedath Sulfath and has three sons.
