02-06-2025
Anvar forms new front, targets Satheesan & Riyas
Kozhikode: Former Left-backed independent MLA PV Anvar filed his nomination papers on Monday and announced a new political front in Kerala called Janakeeya Prathipaksha Prathiroda Munnani (JPPM).
He also continued his criticism of opposition leader VD Satheesan and PWD minister PA Mohammed Riyas.
Anvar said he decided to contest because Satheesan, who was expected to support his fight against 'Pinrayism', tried to suppress it instead. He claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party and several groups, including farmers, labourers, and traders, would back JPPM.
Anvar called Satheesan the 'personification of arrogance' and claimed that he kept winning from Paravoor only because the CPI put up weak candidates against him.
He also made new allegations against PWD minister Riyas, accusing him of collecting crores from contractors to fund the state govt's outreach programme Nava Kerala Sabha.
Anvar accused UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath, Satheesan and Riyas of running a smear campaign against him. He warned that if they didn't stop, he would hit back the same way. "I'll set up a TV screen in Nilambur and expose their wrongdoings with evidence.
They won't be able to face it," he said.
Speaking at a roadshow, Anvar said he was forced to contest the bypoll because Satheesan had teamed up with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to push him out of politics.
He began his campaign by visiting the home of former DCC president VV Prakash, his opponent in the 2021 assembly elections. The visit was seen as a move to stir discontent in the Congress, as many still blame Shoukath for Prakash's narrow defeat.
However, Prakash's wife said she would stand firmly with the Congress. "Prakash took his last journey wrapped in the party's tricolour. I will stay with the party till the very end," she said.
