Latest news with #LDF
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala Public Works minister Riyas lashes out at Opposition over NH 66 allegations
KOZHIKODE: Dismissing Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan's allegations regarding the improper construction of NH 66 as politically motivated, Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas has said the remarks were rooted in electoral insecurity, particularly with M Swaraj being fielded as the LDF candidate in Nilambur. 'The arrival of a strong LDF candidate like M Swaraj has clearly unsettled the opposition leader. That's why he's raising his voice and throwing around baseless allegations,' Riyas told reporters in Kozhikode on Sunday. He hinted that the opposition's sudden focus on national highway issues is an attempt to deflect attention from internal setbacks and the Congress party's questionable alliances. 'Those who speak about a CPM-BJP nexus should first explain what action they took in Thrissur, where it was the Congress that helped the lotus bloom. Who truly worked behind the scenes,' Riyas asked. Addressing the allegations regarding flaws in highway construction, the minister said, 'If any construction defect is found, we will definitely take action. But let's be clear, the responsibility for the construction lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), not the state government.'
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.
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.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Vijayan: Anvar's betrayal triggered unexpected bypoll
Kozhikode: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan , who opened LDF's bypoll convention in Nilambur on Sunday, said the bypoll happened because of a grave betrayal. "The assembly election took place in 2021. The govt assumed office in May that year and recently marked four years in power. The next election is due in 2026. But now we face an unexpected election and everyone knows it is because of a serious betrayal," he said. Vijayan said LDF was not worried about the situation. "We enter the contest fully confident of winning because people continue to support the LDF strongly. At every stage, the people have shown their support clearly. Why do people stand with LDF like this? Because their experience shows that LDF delivers and gets things done," said the chief minister. Without naming PV Anvar, former Nilambur MLA and LDF-backed independent whose resignation caused the bypoll, Vijayan used a historical example to highlight betrayal. "Nilambur has a proud history of great fighters. But it is also the place where a deep betrayal happened. A friend visited freedom fighter Variyamkunnath Kunhamed Haji. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Trusting him, Haji let him in, not knowing it was a trap. The British then surrounded and captured him," said Vijayan. Referring to LDF's candidate M Swaraj, Vijayan said people welcomed him warmly in the constituency and across the state. "The people of Nilambur have shown great enthusiasm for his candidature. The scenes during his campaign on Saturday were very different— even those who are not active LDF workers came forward to join the programme," he said.
