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News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Nilambur By-Election Turns Into A High-Profile Four-Cornered Electoral Battle
Last Updated: This will be a third by-election in the six-decade history of Nilambur Assembly seat. The bye-election in Nilambur, located in the Malappuram district and part of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, is set for June 19, with votes to be counted on June 23. This marks the third by-election in the six-decade history of this Assembly seat. The first two by-elections are notable. The initial one in 1967 was prompted by the assassination of sitting MLA K Kunhali, a CPM leader. It remains the only instance of an MLA being murdered in Kerala. The second by-election occurred in 1980 following the resignation of CH Haridas, a Congress leader who had been elected as part of the CPM-led LDF. He stepped down just 10 days after being elected to allow his party colleague, Aryadan Muhammad, to become an MLA and a state minister. For the first time in Kerala, four parties — the ruling CPI(M) and Congress, the BJP and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) — are contesting an Assembly by-election and have also put forward prominent candidates. PV Anvar, whose resignation in January led to the by-election, was a Trinamool candidate. Anvar, a businessman-politician, won the seat in 2016 and 2021 as an LDF-backed Independent and was known for his close ties with CM Pinarayi Vijayan. However, he began to level various allegations against the Chief Minister and his office. After resigning, Anvar indicated support for the Congress-led UDF and claimed he would not contest the by-election. Despite his efforts to join the UDF, Congress selected his rival Aryadan Shoukath, whom Anvar had defeated in 2016, as their candidate. Aryadan Shoukath, a politician and screenwriter, is the son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Muhammad, who served as an MLA and minister multiple times. M Swaraj, a former MLA and CPI(M) state secretariat member, will contest as the LDF candidate. This is the first time in 16 years that a candidate will run under the CPI(M) symbol in this seat. On the final day for filing nominations, the BJP announced Mohan George, a lawyer newly affiliated with the party and formerly associated with Kerala Congress factions, as their candidate. The revised final electoral roll lists 2,32,384 voters in the constituency, comprising 1,13,486 men, 1,18,889 women, and 9 transgender persons, along with 374 overseas (NRI) voters. There are 263 polling stations in the constituency. First Published: June 03, 2025, 14:42 IST
New Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CPM to name Nilambur bypoll candidate today; party shifts focus to consensus pick
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM is set to announce its candidate for the Nilambur by-election on Friday. A state secretariat meeting will discuss potential candidates, and after consulting with party leadership in Malappuram, the official candidate will be revealed in Thiruvananthapuram. According to sources within the CPM, the leadership has carefully weighed its options. While there was initial support for nominating a CPM leader, the decision has shifted towards selecting a candidate who can garner broader consensus. This adjustment comes in light of the political upheaval within the UDF following P V Anvar's break from the Congress leadership. Initially, CPM state secretariat member M Swaraj was considered, but the party recognised the necessity of a candidate who appeals not only to leftist supporters but also to non-left and community voters. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the LDF is presently engaged in discussions on finalising its candidate for the Nilambur assembly by-election and the announcement will be made soon. Responding to queries about the bypoll at a press conference on Thursday, Pinarayi said the CPM-led front usually decides its candidates after the election is declared. When asked about Trinamool Congress leader P V Anvar, Pinarayi said the 'less said about him the better' as he has been rejected by all.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Local body to approach state govt over renaming ‘Pakistan Mukku'
Thiruvananthapuram: Kunnathoor panchayat in Kollam has decided to forward a request submitted by one of the ward members to change the name 'Pakistan Mukku', the name of a road in the village, to the state govt. A BJP member submitted a letter to the CPM-led panchayat after anti-Pakistan sentiments were triggered across the country in the wake of the Indo-Pak conflict and Operation Sindoor. For several decades, a road on the Mannadi route near the border of Kunnathoor panchayat and Kadambanad was known as Pakistan Mukku. It is included in the register, and shops have the name on their signboards. Kunnathoor panchayat president Valsala Kumari said that Pakistan Mukku is not the name of a place in the panchayat. "One end of a road is called Pakistan Mukku. We do not know how the name came about. There are some Muslim families in the area. But we all are living in harmony," she said. She added that no one had any problem with the name until the Indo-Pak conflict escalated. A BJP member of the panchayat gave a letter to the panchayat saying that the name is inappropriate and should be changed. "It was discussed in the committee, and it is being forwarded to the state govt because panchayats do not have the rights to change the name of a street or a locality," she said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo The panchayat has discussed that the name can be changed to Ivarkala. There are two or three places named after Pakistan in the state. There is one near Venjaranmoodu and another in Kallara in Thiruvananthapuram district. However, Kallara panchayat is not thinking of suggesting a name change. Across country there are places named after Pakistan or with some connection to Pakistan's history, like Pakistan Colony in Vijayawada, Pakistan Village in Bihar, Jinnah Tower in Guntur, Jinnah House in Maharashtra, and many more. The name of Pakistan Colony was changed recently. They were once considered curious cases with potential for Indo-Pak friendship and religious harmony but the BJP leaders have started moving to have them renamed after Operation Sindoor. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Under-construction NH-66 collapses: Congress alleges corruption
Thiruvananthapurm, May 21 (UNI) Responding to the collapse of under-construction six-lane NH-66 at 3 places in Kerala, AICC Working Committee Member and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the hallmark of the current dispensation has been corruption, nepotism and incompetence. The under construction NH-66 has collapsed at 3 places including Kooriyad, Thalapara and Kanhangad in Malappuram and Kasargod districts. The cave-ins are reported at a time when the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government is celebrating its 4th anniversary, he said. "The CPM-led LDF government is celebrating NH Development as its flagship programme as part of their ongoing 4th anniversary celebrations of the 2nd Pinarayi Vijayan Government," he added. "This becomes even more comical when one considers the flex wars and adverts that both the state and central government did to claim the NH to be their own. Now no one seems to be owning up responsibility," he alleged. "This shows the fallacy and hypocrisy of the Pinarayi Vijayan Government in Kerala. The common man is fed up of the 9-year rule of CPM-led LDF in the State where they have literally no development to show other than usurping old schemes and big talk," he charged. Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan alleged that both the CPM and BJP were fighting for the credit over NH-66. But, when the under-construction six-lane highway collapsed, both the parties shirked their responsibility. "Someone must ensure accountability, and fix such issues swiftly. Public safety must come first," Satheesan added. UNI DS PRS
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala CM, Opposition claim credit for Vizhinjam port
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kerala on May 2, the leaders of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) battled for claiming credit for the Vizhinjam International Seaport. India's first semi-automated port which can handle large vessels due to its proximity to the international sea waters and natural depth, Vizhinjam port kick started its trial operations in July last year and commercial operations began in October. Since then, over 270 ships have berthed at the port and over 6 lakh TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent unit) of cargo have been handled at the port. On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan alleged that he was not originally invited to the commissoning event scheduled to be held on May 2 by the state government and that the invite came only after the controversy over it. 'Won't take part in the programmer,' he added. He alleged that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to steal the credit for the port's realisation by wilfully forgetting the contributions of late former chief minister Oommen Chandy whose cabinet approved the project. 'When Oommen Chandy government approved the project in 2015, Pinarayi Vijayan, who was then the CPI(M) state secretary, had termed it a scam and a ₹6,000 crore real estate deal. The same Pinarayi Vijayan trying to steal the credit for the port when it is being commissioned reminds of a character created by Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer. The project, which should have been completed in 2019, has naturally been realised now,' said Satheesan, adding that the road-rail connectivity to the port have not been completed. He said the port became a reality because of the 'will-power and determination' of the Chandy government. At the same time, CM Vijayan clarified that the LoP's name was present in the list sent by the state government to the Prime Minister's Office. 'His name is present in the list we sent. But ultimately, it's the PMO which decides who will be present on the dais during the event. It's not in our control. I don't know why he (Satheesan) wouldn't participate in the event,' said the CM. In an article published in local newspapers, the chief minister termed the realisation of the port a shining example of the LDF government's 'progressive governance culture.' He said the port was the brainchild of the 1996 Left government under EK Nayanar. 'The dream of a port in Vizhinjam has been realised due to the determination of the LDF government. It has the highest investment by a state government in the country. Currently, the state government is bearing two-thirds of the total project cost. Critical components such as the construction of the embankment were completely entirely with the funding of the state government,' the CM said at a press conference on Wednesday. The first phase of the port has been completed and expansion works are ongoing for the remaining phases, said officials. The Vizhinjam port is being realised on a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode with funding from the Kerala government, Centre and the Adani Ports Private Limited being the developer. In fact, it is the first greenfield port project to receive viability gap funding from the government of India, the project documents said. Located 10 nautical miles from the international shipping line and gifted with a natural depth of 18 metres, the port has the potential to give a tremendous boost to the country's maritime trade which is currently suffering due to the lack of a major port in southern India, it further stated. The depth at Vizhinjam is more than that of any competing port in the country and is either more than or equal to that of international competing ports like Singapore, Colombo and Salalah in Oman, it added.
