The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has hit back at government parliamentarian Abdul Cader for saying that the SLMC will lose the Provincial Council elections in the east.In response to the news item published in The Sunday Leader last week under the title ‘UPFA MP says Hakeem will lose” the SLMC said that UPFA MP Abdul Cader has no right to castigate the SLMC. SLMC deputy leader Nazeer Ahamed said that Cader had let down the people who voted for him by leaving the UNP and joining the UPFA. Nazeer Ahamed said that the SLMC supports the government but as a political party has not crossed over to the UPFA like Cader. “The SLMC functions as an independent party within the UPFA. Besides senior government MPs and party leader Rauf Hakeem have gone public with statements that the SLMC is a government  constituent party and as such is working together with the government for the EPC elections,” he said. The SLMC deputy leader further added that the reason why the SLMC decided to go solo in the East was to maintain its identity and independence as clearly articulated by its leader Rauf Hakeem.“We are certain to win the Eastern Provincial Council elections and after our victory we will go into an alliance with the UPFA to develop the province and work towards achieving the aspirations of the people of the region,” Nazeer Ahamed said.