Kozhikode (Kerala) | Former BJP state president K Surendran on Friday said the education portfolio in Kerala should not be given to the IUML.

Speaking to reporters here, Surendran said the education department, being a key portfolio, should be handled by a national party rather than the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

"Whenever the IUML handled the ministry, there were several allegations. People will give their opinion about it. Our stand has always been that the education department should not be given to a religious party but should be handled by a national party," he said.

He alleged that the IUML was exerting pressure within the UDF in matters including the selection of the chief minister.

Surendran said the "pressure politics" of the IUML is not good for the state.

"We have been hearing that if the UDF comes to power, it will be controlled by the IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami. This is what we are witnessing now," he alleged.

He also claimed that the political strategy during the election was decided from the "war room" of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Surendran contested the assembly election from Manjeshwar in Kasaragod and lost to AKM Ashraf of IUML.

Whereas the party managed to secure three seats in the election.