Nilambur byelection: Reconciliation chances dim as Anvar targets Satheesan
Kozhikode: The chance of UDF and former Nilambur MLA and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) state convener PV Anvar working together in Nilambur bypoll faded on Thursday as neither side backed down.
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Anvar launched a sharp attack on opposition leader VD Satheesan even as UDF said it will make a final decision on Friday.
Anvar accused Satheesan of using the bypoll to sideline him instead of focusing on CM Pinarayi Vijayan. "Satheesan has a hidden agenda. UDF leaders may not see it yet, but I do," he alleged, adding that Satheesan stopped his meeting with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday
The meeting, meant to discuss cooperation during bypoll, was cancelled after Satheesan threatened to quit as UDF chairman if it happened.
I came to Kozhikode by 5pm and waited until 7:45pm to meet Venugopal. But the meeting did not happen because Satheesan objected, Anvar alleged. Meanwhile Satheesan said Anvar must first say if he supports UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath. Only then will UDF share its position on him.
IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty said UDF will decide by Friday evening. "No talks will happen until then. We have one last meeting and will announce our decision after," he said.
KPCC chief Sunny Joseph said Anvar must take back his public comments against Shoukath. "If he does that, there will be no problems moving forward," he said.
Meanwhile, CPM state secretary MV Govindan said Nilambur will reject Anvar's 'political betrayal'. In an article published by party mouthpiece Deshabhimani, he blamed Shoukath for the defeat of former DCC president VV Prakash in 2021 election. Govindan said a Facebook post by Prakash's daughter was a hidden attack on Shoukath.
After TMC state secretariat meeting, Anvar said the party will decide on contesting the bypoll on Friday.
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