Latest news with #Anvar
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.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur byelection a fallout of betrayal, says Kerala CM
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) formally began its political campaigning for the Nilambur Assembly byelection with a convention at Nilambur on Sunday afternoon. Inaugurating the convention, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the people of Nilambur were facing a byelection as a fallout of a betrayal. It was the LDF's independent member P.V. Anvar's resignation of his Assembly membership that led to the June 19 byelection in Nilambur. Describing Mr. Anvar's behaviour as an act of treachery without naming him, Mr. Vijayan said that Nilambur was the land of Variankunnath Kunhahamed Haji, the hero of Malabar rebellion who led the agitation against the British. 'It is also the land of people who betrayed him. Like him, we too have been betrayed,' said the Chief Minister. Mr. Vijayan presented the achievements of his government, especially in the last four years. CPI leader P.P. Suneer presided over the function. V.M. Shoukath welcomed the gathering. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan, CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam, LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan, LDF candidate M. Swaraj, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member A. Vijayaraghavan, and other LDF leaders such as Jose K. Mani, Roshy Augustin, A.K. Saseendran, K.K. Shailaja and C.S. Sujata addressed the convention. Responding to the Chief Minister's allegation of treachery, Mr. Anvar accused Mr. Vijayan of masterminding communal manipulations. 'The Chief Minister's expertise lies in using communities to his advantage and abandoning them when they are no longer needed. That is the real betrayal,' Mr. Anvar claimed through a Facebook post, adding that Nilambur was witnessing a fight for justice.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Late-night mission to Anvar's house puts Mamkootathil in a spot
A furtive late-night visit to All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) leader P.V. Anvar's house in Malappuram, ostensibly to beseech him not to contest in the Nilambur Assembly bypoll, appears to have put Youth Congress State president Rahul Mamkootathil, and his party's leadership, in a spot. Discomfitingly for the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] campaign in Nilambur alleged that Mr. Mamkootathil had fallen to his knees in supplication in front of Mr. Anvar at the behest of his 'mentor' and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and the UDF was panicky about the AITMC leader's independent electoral foray. The CPI(M) disseminated viral videos of Mr. Mamkootathil glad-handling Mr. Anvar. Mr. Anvar, a twice-elected Left Democratic Front-backed (LDF) Independent legislator from Nilambur, had lobbied for a position in the United Democratic Front (UDF) since his bitter exit from the ruling front, consequent to his resignation as Nilambur MLA. and political re-emergence as the AITMC's State coordinator. Mr. Mamkootathil's 'self-styled mission' to Mr. Anvar came on the day when the UDF proclaimed it was loath to accommodate Mr. Anvar in the alliance until the latter agreed to withdraw his public scepticism about the winnability of Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath in Nilambur. The UDF also appeared chary of Mr. Anvar's alleged bid to dictate the candidate selection process by suggesting the name of another local leader from the Christian settler-farmer community, a significant electoral bloc in the constituency, instead. 'A disservice' Mr. Satheesan disavowed Mr. Mamkootathil's overture to Mr. Anvar. He said Mr. Mamkootathil had done the party and the UDF a disservice. Neither the Congress nor the UDF had tasked him to play an emissary's role. 'He went on his own volition, and I have castigated him for the unsanctioned act,' he said. Mr. Mamkootathil said he had called on Mr. Anvar to persuade the latter not to lose focus on dismantling 'Pinarayism,' a UDF euphemism for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's governance. His response Mr. Mamkootathil dismissed accusations that he had left a UDF campaign meeting for the impromptu late-night embassy without informing party colleagues and in an alleged act of political one-upmanship. 'I accept the Congress's decision that I had erred,' he said. Mr. Anvar said he had told Mr. Mamkootathil that Mr. Satheesan was the sole obstacle to his UDF entry and alleged that the Leader of the Opposition was in cahoots with Mr. Vijayan to deny the AITMC political space in Kerala.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong missteps give UDF a headache
Kozhikode: When former independent MLA PV Anvar left LDF and accused CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his office of wrongdoing, many thought it would hurt the Left in the bypoll. But due to a series of mistakes by Congress in handling the acerbic and unpredictable leader, the issue is now becoming a problem for UDF just before elections. Although Anvar kept attacking UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath and claimed he had no chance of winning, Congress failed to present a clear counter narrative. Instead of closing ranks, Congress leaders kept engaging with Anvar and fuelled speculation within the party about how to deal with him. Anvar's personal credibility has faded over the years, reducing his electoral influence, but he still holds some 'spoiler' value that matters in a close bypoll. UDF insiders believe his impact may be limited to fewer than 5000 votes, but even a small shift can make a difference in a tight race. LDF, by fielding rising heavyweight M Swaraj, seems to be consolidating its core vote base effectively. UDF's unclear and inconsistent stance on Anvar has exposed its internal divisions. Early public gestures, like sharing the stage with Anvar and seeming to support his anti-Pinarayi remarks, gave him more weight than he deserves. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubra ofertas de voos imperdíveis Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo This could help Anvar attract some anti-incumbency votes that might otherwise have gone to UDF in a direct contest. During the campaign, LDF and UDF will have to endure his daily attacks on Shoukath and Swaraj and risk weakening their broader political fight against each other. Congress seems to have underestimated the long-standing personal animosity between Anvar and the Aryadan family. Expecting tactical cooperation between Anvar and Shoukath was probably naive. From the start, Anvar was unlikely to accept Shoukath taking the MLA seat he resigned from, unless, as some speculate, a firm offer for a seat in the 2026 election was on the table. UDF must watch out if Anvar exploits the front's internal problems, including local resentment after former DCC president VV Prakash narrowly lost the 2021 polls and unease among parts of the Muslim community over Shoukath's cultural views, especially shown in his films. UDF and LDF say Anvar's candidacy will not affect their chances. UDF leaders argue the contest is now a direct ideological battle between the fronts, which they hope will serve as a referendum on LDF govt's nine-year rule. After winning Nilambur in 2016, CPM went out of its way to support Anvar who came from a prominent Congress family. He caught CPM's attention with his aggressive politics and the party backed him when he left Congress. CPM also supported Anvar in the 2011 assembly elections when he ran as an independent from Ernad. Later Anvar ran as an independent in Wayanad in 2014 and won nearly 50,000 votes in an election where CPI's Sathyan Mokeri lost by 20,870 votes. Though Anvar was involved in controversies including illegal construction on ESA land at Kakkadampoyil and faced criminal cases, CPM and the CM protected him. CPM fielded him in Nilambur in 2021 though some opposed his long absence before the elections as he was in Sierra Leone setting up a Rs 20,000 crore gold and diamond mining business.
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.
