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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Nilambur bypoll to be four-cornered contest
The June 19 bypoll in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala is shaping up to be a fierce four-cornered contest with the addition of PV Anvar and Mohan George as the Trinamool Congress (AITC) and BJP candidates, respectively, in the fray. Anvar, whose resignation in January as a Left-backed Independent lawmaker had forced the bypoll, said on Sunday that he would file his nomination papers on June 2 as an AITC candidate after his persistent efforts to be inducted into the Congress-led UDF proved to be unsuccessful. He said he was forced to take the decision as the UDF 'closed its doors' on him. At a press conference at his home, the former MLA lashed out at Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, terming him 'autocratic' and accusing him of blocking the path for him to be brought into the UDF. 'This bye-election is an opportunity for the common people of Nilambur to register their protest and grievances against the current LDF dispensation and the chief minister. Particularly, there are hardships being faced by the migrant settlers in hilly areas. We are fighting to win. We will get the anti-incumbency votes against the CM,' Anvar said. Anvar added that the UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath would not succeed in the bypoll as he does not have the strength to counter the politics of Pinarayi Vijayan. The businessman-politician, who won from Nilambur in 2016 and 2021 as an LDF-backed Independent, broke ranks with the LDF last year after levelling a series of allegations against top cop MR Ajith Kumar and senior CPI(M) leader P Sasi. Once seen as a close confidante of CM Vijayan, Anvar gradually made his opposition to the chief minister the bulwark of his politics. After resigning as MLA, Anvar signalled his support to the UDF and had even said that he would not contest the bypoll. Though he tried relentlessly through talks with various UDF leaders to enter the alliance, it is widely assessed that his personal rivalry with Shoukath, a man he had defeated in 2016, proved to be the sore point in the discussions. Satheesan told reporters on Sunday, 'We closed the door for talks with Anvar because he keeps repeating the same allegations against our candidate Aryadan Shoukath.' Meanwhile, on the eve of the last day for filing nominations, the BJP fielded Mohan George, a lawyer who accepted the party's membership on Sunday and was long associated with the PJ Joseph-led Kerala Congress and Kerala Congress (B). George, a native of Nilambur, is a council member of the Mar Thoma Sabha, a prominent Church in the state, and the vice-president of the Mar Thoma Church in Chungathara. George told reporters after his nomination, 'There will be a strong fight here, no doubt. The BJP has a good influence in Nilambur and we seek the votes of every community. I decided to leave the Kerala Congress party because it is not strong here in Malappuram district.' The BJP, through George's candidacy, is seen as building a bridge with the Christian community in the constituency who are a strong vote-bank and hold influence particularly in the high-range areas. While the bye-election in Nilambur is scheduled on June 19, the votes will be counted on June 23. Swaraj a candidate with 'clean image': Kerala CM CM Pinarayi Vijayan, addressing his first LDF election convention in Nilambur on Sunday, exhorted voters and LDF cadres to back M Swaraj stating that he is a candidate with a clean image. 'He (Swaraj) is known to everyone. You have received the news of his candidacy with a lot of is a candidate with a clean image. He can always ask for votes from anyone with his head held high. Such large public attendance at this convention attests to it,' said the CM. At the same time, the CM also trained his guns on Anvar, saying that his 'betrayal' to the Left forced the bypoll. In his convention speech, the CM listed the achievements of his administration and claimed that the state has become a model for good governance.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Anvar announces his candidature, more drama to Nilambur byelection
Kozhikode: Adding to the political drama surrounding the Nilambur assembly byelection, former MLA and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) state convenor P V Anvar announced his candidature as the party candidate in the June 19 poll. He said he would file his nomination on Monday. Soon after Anvar's declaration, the AITC announced his candidature and allotted him the party's "two flowers plus grass" symbol. The byelection was necessitated by Anvar's resignation in Jan after breaking ranks with the ruling LDF. He wrested the constituency for the LDF as an independent candidate in 2016 by ending 29 years of Congress dominance. Anvar announced his candidature after days of pressure tactics and confrontation with the Congress and UDF to accept AITC in the front with the assurance of a sure seat for him, even while refusing to withdraw his remarks against UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath. Justifying his candidature, Anvar said Shoukath lacked the ability to defeat "Pinarayism" and a UDF defeat would allow the LDF to return to power in 2026. "If Shoukath loses, all the slogans I raised against Pinarayi Vijayan will go in vain. Should I merely remain a spectator?" he asked, vowing to secure at least 25,000 votes by raising the concerns of the settler farmer community. Anvar further alleged a tacit alliance between opposition leader V D Satheesan and the LDF. "Satheesan is part of a larger political nexus. It was under Pinarayi Vijayan's diktat that I was sidelined by Satheesan from the UDF. Vijayan has said that Satheesan won't win another time from Paravoor if this was not complied," he claimed. He also didn't drop his habit of coining 'isms', saying what was unfolding in the UDF was nothing short of 'Hitlerism' and warning that the front would not win the 2026 election if it moved ahead under the current leadership. Targeting Satheesan, Anvar said he urged the Cong leader to strongly oppose the move to promote ADGP Ajith Kumar as DGP, but he remained silent. Even when former Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das was reinstated, Satheesan kept mum, which he said was proof of a broader nexus involving Satheesan. He alleged that Satheesan once said that giving a fifth ministerial berth to the Muslim League would spell the end of UDF in Kerala. "Will League workers accept such a leadership?" Anvar asked. He also blamed the environmental stance taken by 'Green MLAs' under Satheesan's leadership in support of the Gadgil committee for destroying UDF's prospects in the high-range regions. Anvar also trained his guns at the UDF candidate, saying Shoukath, despite being a Muslim, acted against the community through his films. He also alleged that Shoukath disparaged Panakkad Thangals, which the community would not forget. He also criticised LDF candidate M Swaraj for his stands on the entry of women into Sabarimala and Operation Sindhoor. Before breaking ranks with the LDF, Anvar was Vijayan's trusted lieutenant in Malappuram and a key element in CPM's strategy to make inroads into UDF strongholds in the district. He wrested Nilambur, which elected Aryadan Mohammed for six straight terms from 1987 to 2016, by defeating Shoukath by a margin of 11,504 votes. In 2021, he retained the seat by defeating the late DCC president V V Prakash by a margin of 2,700 votes. The Nilambur byelection falls just ahead of the upcoming local self-govt polls and assembly election, turning it into a high-stakes political fight. Sensing the significance of the battle, the CPM dropped its post-2006 practice of fielding independents in Nilambur and put up its state secretariat member M Swaraj.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur scene turns murkier as Anvar prepares to contest
The electoral scene in Nilambur Assembly constituency, which goes to the polls on June 19, turned murkier with All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) State convener P.V. Anvar changing his stance and deciding to contest. Sources close to Mr. Anvar said that he would be contesting under the AITC banner. However, some others indicated that Mr. Anvar's move would be the last-ditch effort to pressure the United Democratic Front (UDF). UDF chairman and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said that there would not be any more talks with Mr. Anvar. 'We have closed all doors of discussion as Mr. Anvar stuck to his stand of opposing the UDF candidate in Nilambur,' said Mr. Satheesan. However, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph said that the doors were closed for the time being. 'No doors are permanently closed in politics,' he said. Mr. Joseph said that the electoral battle in Nilambur would be completely political, and not personal. He said the UDF would win comfortably even if Mr. Anvar contests. 'Nilambur is going to be an anti-Government verdict,' he said. Youth Congress State president Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, visited Mr. Anvar at his Edavanna house on Saturday (May 31, 2025) night and persuaded him to change his stand. Mr. Mamkootathil said that he had requested Mr. Anvar not to take any decision emotionally. Rather, he said, Mr. Anvar should support the UDF in the fight against Pinarayism. 'I told Mr. Anvar not to miss the objective,' he said. Meanwhile, the UDF chairman described Mr. Mamkootathil's visit to Mr. Anvar as a mistake. 'The UDF did not entrust him to visit and talk to Mr. Anvar. He should not have done it,' said Mr. Satheesan. But he said the UDF would not seek any explanation from the Youth Congress chief. 'I will chastise him when I meet him. He is like my younger brother. I can do that,' said Mr. Satheesan.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CPI(M) names ex-MLA M Swaraj as candidate for Nilambur bypoll on June 19
Kochi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday named, M Swaraj, former MLA and state secretariat member as its candidate for the upcoming by-election to the Nilambur assembly constituency in Kerala scheduled for June 19. The decision was announced by CPI(M)'s state secretary MV Govindan, following the party's state secretariat meeting in Thiruvananthapuram. Swaraj, who represented the Thripunithura assembly constituency in Ernakulam district between 2016 and 2021 as a member of the legislative assembly (MLA), will take on Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath in the bypoll. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is yet to announce its candidate. The bye-election was necessitated after independent MLA from Nilambur PV Anvar resigned as legislator on January 13, following which the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) appointed him as the party's state convenor in Kerala. Anvar, who had won as a Left Democratic Front (LDF)-backed Independent in 2016 and 2021 assembly elections from Nilambur in Malappuram district, broke ranks with the CPI(M)-led LDF last year over a range of issues. Anvar and the AITC have demanded inclusion in the Congress-led UDF fold. A decision on the matter is pending. After he was nominated by the party, Swaraj told reporters that 'the votes would be cast in favour of the Left as vindication of its developmental achievements in the last nine years.' 'A wide section of people across party lines agree today that the LDF best governs Kerala. The common people in the state are the beneficiaries of the developmental and welfare initiatives that the government has taken. They have love and trust for the government. This will reflect in Nilambur too. The stand that the CPI(M) and LDF have taken against communal forces has always been welcomed by secular voters. We are very confident about our chances,' Swaraj said.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
TMC announces candidate for Kaliganj assembly constituency bypoll
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 27 (ANI): The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) announced Alifa Ahmed as their candidate from the Kaliganj assembly constituency ahead of the bypoll, which is set to take place on June 19. The Kaliganj assembly constituency was declared vacant following the death of TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed. TMC shared a post on their official 'X' handle and informed about the development. 'AITC, under the inspiration and guidance of Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, we are pleased to announce the candidate for the upcoming West Bengal Legislative Assembly By-election scheduled for 19th June, 2025', the 'X' post read. On May 25, the Election Commission of India announced dates for by-elections on five assembly constituencies across four states. These include Gujarat's Kadi and Visavadar, Kerala's Nilambur, Punjab's Ludhiana West and West Bengal's Kaliganj. Bye-election will be held in Gujarat's constituencies Kadi and Visavadar to fill the posts of Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki who passed away in February this year and the resignation of Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai. In Kerala, the bye-election will be held in Nilambur to fill the post of PV Anvar, an LDF-backed MLA who resigned in January this year. He was appointed convenor of the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). In Punjab, the bye-election will be held in Ludhiana West to fill the post of Gurpreet Bassi Gogi after his demise their January. Meanwhile, the Kaliganj assembly seat by-election is very important for the incumbent TMC state government due to the developments that have taken place in West Bengal in the previous few months. The TMC government was under the radar due to various issues, especially due to the violence that erupted due to the Waqf Amendment Act in Murshidabad. Following the violence in Murshidabad, the Calcutta High Court had set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident. The fact-finding committee set up by Calcutta High Court submitted its report on the Violence that occurred in West Bengal's Murshidabad, highlighting that as many as 113 houses were affected badly in the village of Betbona during the violence. It stated that the majority of residents had taken shelter in Malda but all of them have been forced to return by the police administration in Betbona village. The report said, 'Attacks were directed by a local councillor,' adding that Local Police was completely 'inactive and absent'. It further said that the people want permanent BSF camps and Central Armed Forces for their own protection. 'The West Bengal Police did not respond. The villager of Betbona called at 4 p.m. on Friday and 4p.m. on Saturday but police did not pick up the call,' the reports added. 'A man came back to the village and saw which houses were not attacked and then the miscreants came and set fire to those houses,' the report further added. 'A man came back to the village and saw which houses were not attacked and then the miscreants came and set fire to those houses,' the report further added. The report referring to the murder of Haragovinda Das (74) and his son Chandan Das (40), the report states, 'They broke down the main door of the house and took her son (Chandan Das) and took her husband [Haragovinda Das] and hit them with an axe in the back. A man was waiting there until they died.' (ANI)
