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The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Nilambur bypoll: How Anvar, once Kerala's richest MLA, is adding twist to crucial LDF-UDF contest
Since then, he actively sought to join the UDF, engaging with leaders from both the Congress and its key ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which holds significant sway in the Malappuram district. But TMC leaders in Kerala said the party had nothing to do with Anvar's now-withdrawn offer of support, it was not discussed with them, and that he has not made any efforts to set up a party committee since joining TMC in January this year. While UDF has largely remained tight-lipped, former MLA P.V. Anvar's gesture was seen as driven by his strategic ambition to maintain his political relevance in a constituency widely considered his stronghold. Anvar, who represented Nilambur in Malappuram as an LDF-aligned independent MLA since 2016, resigned in January, declaring an 'open war' against the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which he targeted for alleged corruption. Thiruvananthapuram: The 19 June Nilambur assembly bypoll is making headlines in Kerala, not because of the contest itself, but a state Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader extending and then retracting support to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Despite its presence in the state since 2008, TMC has not been successful in expanding its footprint in Kerala. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it fielded five candidates in the state but failed to secure even one percent of the votes. Walking back his offer to UDF, Anvar told the media Saturday that he was not interested anymore in being part of the Congress-led alliance. He also clarified that he would not contest the Nilambur bypoll, claiming he did not have the funds to fight an election. 'He [Anvar] is trying to do all this for his personal benefits,' TMC state leader C.G. Unny told ThePrint. The TMC has no plans to contest the bypoll, nor have there been any discussions regarding supporting an alliance, he said, suggesting that if Anvar were to contest, he'd be an independent candidate without party backing. The byelection holds much significance in Kerala's current political landscape, taking place months before the crucial local body polls and nearly a year before the assembly elections. A victory in Nilambur is crucial to the Congress-led UDF's political survival in the state, especially after two consecutive assembly poll defeats. On the other hand, a win for the CPI(M)-led LDF, which is hoping for a third consecutive stint in power, would be a shot in the arm for the Pinarayi-led government. Anvar's support, given his considerable popularity in the constituency, could help UDF reclaim the seat, which the Congress held from 1987 until 2016 through senior Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed. UDF fielded Muhammed's son, Aryadan Shoukath, in the seat in the 2016 assembly polls. He lost to Anvar by 11,504 votes. On Friday, LDF Friday declared popular CPI(M) leader M. Swaraj as its candidate in Nilambur. Hailing from Nilambur, the CPI(M) state secretariat member holds significant popularity even outside the party's traditional support base. Addressing the media at party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram Friday, CPI(M) general secretary M.V. Govindan said the party had decided to field its popular leader on its party symbol. He added that the CPI(M) is aware of UDF's internal conflicts there. 'Swaraj needs no introduction there. Anvar is a betrayer of the LDF. Now, whatever the issues he has in the constituency are regarding the UDF, and not ours,' he said. Also Read: As IUML appoints Dalit woman to its leadership, a look at Muslim women's representation in party UDF, TMC on offer Anvar, known for his rebellious streak, was holding daily press conferences to further his case since the Election Commission announced the bypoll dates. In one such briefing, the former MLA voiced his disapproval of Aryadan Shoukath, but stated his willingness to align with 'any devil to defeat Pinarayi,' provided it was 'a good one'. Days later, Anvar criticised the Congress leadership, including the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala V.D. Satheesan, alleging he was being sidelined and humiliated despite his expressed interest in supporting the UDF in this election. 'Even after withdrawing our candidate in Palakkad, UDF did not fulfil its promise. No one even thanked me after the results. I supported Priyanka (Gandhi) in Wayanad, helped UDF gain control in the Panamaram and Chungathara panchayats, yet Satheesan remained unreachable,' he said. He added that months after expressing interest in joining UDF, he has yet to receive a response. He claimed if he chose to contest Nilambur as an independent, he would secure the support of his party, with leaders like Mamata Banerjee campaigning for him. Kerala Congress leader M. Liju attributed the delay in responding to Anvar's offer to deliberations with the party's central as well as state leadership. But, he emphasised that UDF cannot accept Anvar's comments against the UDF candidate or party leaders. 'We welcome Anvar's stand against the Pinarayi Vijayan government. He can support UDF. But at the same time, we can't accept what he said against our leaders and candidates. If he takes it back, he can be a part of the UDF,' Liju said, adding UDF was confident of winning even without Anvar's support. 'Last time, we lost to Anvar by a small margin. But at the same time, if we get his support, it's good. Because we don't want to lose even one vote,' he said. K.P. Sethunath, a Kerala-based political analyst and former journalist, said Anvar is making it appear as though the Left Front has a fighting chance in Nilambur, a constituency where UDF previously held a clear advantage. 'In places like Kerala, where two fronts are really strong, it's difficult to survive as an individual political entity,' Sethunath told ThePrint. 'He [Anvar] couldn't get into UDF as UDF said they can only cooperate with TMC. His political career is a big question mark after the election as his earlier victory could be pictured as part of CPM's organisational strength and not his individual merit. But on the other hand, if Aryadan Shoukath fails, it would become an 'Anvar impact'. By default, he is becoming an advantage to CPI(M).' Sethunath added that media attention played a major role in Anvar's rise to prominence, and that he was often described as a Pinarayi loyalist. The 'Anvar element' in Nilambur P.V. Anvar comes from an influential Malabar family with strong ties to the Indian National Congress (INC) dating back to the Independence movement. He began his political journey with the Congress student wing, the Kerala Students Union (KSU). He served as students' union chairman at the MES Mampad College and subsequently became vice president of Malappuram Youth Congress. However, he was expelled from the party in 2010 for opposing certain leaders amidst internal factionalism. In the 2016 assembly elections, Anvar contested as an LDF-backed independent candidate and defeated Aryadan Shoukath of the Congress in Nilambur. Prior to this, the constituency was considered a UDF stronghold, with Shoukath's father and former minister Aryadan Muhammed representing it since 1987. In 2021, Anvar retained the seat as an Independent with LDF support, securing a victory against V.V. Prakash of the Congress by a margin of 2,700 votes. However, circumstances changed in September 2024, when Anvar openly criticised the chief minister's close associates, including then ADGP (Law & Order) A.P. Ajith Kumar, IPS Officer Sujith Das, and political secretary P. Sasi, accusing them of corruption. He said that, despite him personally submitting a complaint to Vijayan, no action was taken. In a press conference held in his constituency, Anvar said he felt 'cheated' by Vijayan, whom he once regarded as a 'father figure'. Months later, in January 2025, Anvar resigned from his Nilambur seat, declaring an open war against the chief minister with the stated aim to 'end' LDF rule. A week prior to his resignation, Anvar had joined the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) after his attempts to join the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu proved unsuccessful. A local resident and sports teacher in Nilambur told ThePrint requesting anonymity that Anvar possesses a significant 'fan base' in the constituency. 'He always has cinematic public appeal. It's mostly because of his money. Even when he comes for a function, he would have few guards surrounding him.' According to 2023 data from the Kerala Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Anvar was the wealthiest MLA in Kerala and 149th richest MLA in the country at the time, with Rs 64.14 crore in declared assets. He owns several businesses, including PVR Naturo Resorts in Kozhikode, which offers adventure tourism, including jungle safaris. Anvar also owns P.V.R. Developers, a real estate company specializing in luxury apartments and residential projects. Incidentally, after Anvar left LDF, UDF wrested control of the Chungathara panchayat with his assistance. P. Abdul Hameed, an IUML leader and the MLA of Malappuram's Vallikkunnu constituency, told ThePrint Anvar would indeed assist UDF in the upcoming by-election. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: From reformist group to voice of Ezhavas, why SNDP Yogam's stock is high in Kerala politics
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Byelection to Nilambur assembly constituency in Kerala on June 19
The keenly awaited byelections to the Nilambur Assembly Constituency in Kerala's Malappuram distriict will be held on June 19, the Election Commission of India announced on Sunday (May 25, 2025). The votes will be counted on June 23. As per the ECI announcement, the notification for the bypoll will be issued on May 26 (Monday). June 2 is the last date for filing nomination papers. The scrutiny of the papers will be held on June 3. June 5 is the deadline for withdrawing the nominations. With the announcement of the poll date, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Malappuram district, as per the existing ECI guidelines. The bypoll in the constituency has been necessitated by the resignation of Independent MLA P.V. Anvar. Initially a Left-backed Independent MLA, Mr. Anvar had a falling out with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government leading to a high-voltage political drama in the State. He had tendered his resignation on January 13. As per the final electoral roll published by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer - Kerala, the Nilambur Assembly constituency has 2,32,384 voters. This includes 1,18,889 female voters, 1,13,486 male voters and nine third gender voters. Of the total voters, 374 are overseas electors. It had been announced earlier that the constituency would have 263 polling stations, including 59 new ones.
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Nilambur bypoll in Kerala to witness tough fight between LDF and UDF
Thiruvananthapuram: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced the schedule for byelections to five Assembly constituencies across four states, including the Nilambur constituency in Kerala. The bypoll in Nilambur will be held on June 19, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 23. The official gazette notification for the bypolls will be issued on May 26. The by-election in Nilambur was necessitated by the resignation of sitting MLA P.V. Anvar, who had won the seat in the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections as an LDF-backed Independent candidate. In 2024, Anvar had a major fallout with the CPI(M) and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, following a series of serious allegations he raised against senior police officers, including M.R. Ajithkumar and Sujith Das, as well as P.K. Sasi, the Chief Minister's political secretary. Anvar had submitted complaints to the Chief Minister, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the response from the state leadership. Frustrated with the alleged inaction, he later joined the Trinamool Congress and formally resigned from his MLA post in January this year. With the seat now vacant, political parties have already begun preparations for the upcoming bypoll. The United Democratic Front (UDF) has taken an early lead, commencing groundwork in the Nilambur constituency. Recent electoral trends have shown mixed outcomes for both major coalitions in Kerala. While the UDF and LDF (Left Democratic Front) retained their respective seats in the Palakkad and Chelakkara bypolls in 2024, the UDF had earlier scored a significant win in the 2022 Thrikkakkara bypoll, where Uma Thomas won with a record majority. Nilambur witnessed a shifting of loyalties after the resignation of two-time LDF-backed Independent MLA P.V. Anvar. His exit has triggered a high-stakes battle, and the UDF is aiming to reclaim lost ground, while the LDF is fighting to retain its hold. Kerala has witnessed several key bypolls in recent years, including those held in 2019 in Pala, Manjeshwar, Ernakulam, Vattiyoorkavu, Konni, and Aroor. In addition to Nilambur, by-elections will be held on June 19 in four other Assembly constituencies across the country. These are Kadi and Visavadar in Gujarat, Ludhiana West in Punjab, and Kaliganj in West Bengal. Key Dates: Gazette Notification on May 26; Last Date for Nominations is June 2; Scrutiny of Nominations: June 3; Last Date for Withdrawal: June 5; Polling Date: June 19; Counting of Votes: June 23, and the Completion of Election Process: June 25.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uncertainty continues over Anvar's entry into UDF
Uncertainty hangs over the entry of former Nilambur legislator P.V. Anvar, who previously won as an Independent candidate backed by the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front, into the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and its forging of an electoral understanding with him for the upcoming byelection triggered by his resignation. The Congress leadership wanted Mr. Anvar to either directly join the party or align with a minor constituent of the UDF. However, he appears hesitant to abruptly sever ties with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) where he holds the post of State convener. Moreover, he also does not want to join the Congress, a move he knows as a former Congress leader, would not only be politically detrimental but also diminish his bargaining power within the UDF. Considering the strained relations between the Congress and the TMC in West Bengal, the Congress leadership have urged Mr. Anvar to cut his connections with the TMC, suggesting he instead join the Communist Marxist Party (CMP) . In fact, Mr. Anvar was scheduled to hold discussions with CMP general secretary C.P. John in Kozhikode on Friday, a meeting that ultimately did not materialise. Meanwhile, a high-level UDF meeting convened in Kozhikode on Friday welcomed Mr. Anvar into its fold and decided to entrust the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, V.D. Satheesan, with the task of formulating the modalities for his inclusion in the alliance. The final decision about associating with Mr. Anvar would be taken after consulting with the Congress high command, UDF convener M.M. Hassan said at a press briefing. Despite this development, speculation is also rife that the TMC national leadership has given approval for Mr. Anvar to contest the byelection, should he fail to reach an agreement with the UDF. Incidentally, Mr. Anvar welcomed the decision of the UDF meeting. Mr. Anvar, elected from the Nilambur constituency as an LDF-supported candidate in both 2016 and 2021, shot to limelight following allegations he levelled against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his political secretary P. Sasi, and a team of police officers, including Additional Director General of Police M.R. Ajit Kumar, six months ago. However, Congress leaders now believe that his influence has faded and may not secure the electoral gains the party anticipates in the upcoming bypolls. Even so, Mr. Anvar retains pockets of influence in the constituency and his political moves will be keenly watched in the bypolls, in the upcoming local body elections this year and the Assembly elections in 2026. He established a new political entity, the Democratic Movement of Kerala, which he later merged with the TMC before his resignation from the Assembly.
