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India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Kerala: PV Anvar to contest Nilambur bypolls as TMC candidate
Malappuram (Kerala) [India], June 1 (ANI): All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has fielded their Kerala state coordinator, PV Anvar, as their candidate for the upcoming Nilambur bypolls, set to be held on June 19. Anvar had raised corruption allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's officials and claimed that he would not be contesting the bypolls, supporting the Congress candidate instead. The byelections were necessitated after Anvar submitted his resignation on January 13 to Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer, days after holding talks with TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. Talking about their candidate, a post by TMC read, 'Under the inspiration and guidance of Hon'ble Chairperson Smt. Mamata Banerjee, we are pleased to announce the All India Trinamool Congress candidate for the impending Kerala Legislative Bye-election scheduled for 19th June, 2025.' A few months ago, Anvar had accused CM Vijayan's political secretary P Sasi, and ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, claiming they were involved in phone tapping of ministers and journalists and also accused the ADGP and IPS officer Sujith Das of misappropriated seized gold. Anvar had claimed that there was RSS influence in the home department and Muslim youths were being framed in false cases. Following the accusations, Anvar, then an independent MLA but aligned with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state, vowed to work for ending the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. 'I will not contest the Nilambur by-election. I will give full support to the Congress candidate to end the Pinarayi government. The Congress should field a candidate from Nilambur. Malappuram DCC president Joy is the suitable candidate,' Anvar had told mediapersons on January 13. The byelection has political significance as it is a precursor to next year's state assembly election and will test the popularity of the current government led by CM Vijayan. Anvar has also raised the issue of human-animal conflict in the state, and also apologised to Congress MLA VD Satheesan for raising corruption allegations against him, saying that CM Vijayan's political secretary had asked him to raise those allegations. 'CM's political secretary asked me to raise corruption allegation against opposition leader VD Satheesan in the assembly. He has prepared the matter to present in the assembly. The allegation that VD Satheesan received Rs 150 crore was raised in the assembly with the permission of the Speaker. I don't know whether there was a conspiracy. I apologise to opposition leader V D Satheesan and the public for this,' he told reporters. Anvar has been the Nilambur MLA since 2016, backed by the LDF in both the 2016 and 2021 assembly elections. Notably, LDF has announced M Swaraj as their candidate, meanwhile Bharatiya Janata Party is fielding Mohan George and the United Democratic Front (UDF) announced Aryadan Shoukath. (ANI)
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Cult of Pinarayi Vijayan': Row over documentary as CPI(M) draws Oppn fire over ‘hero worship'
At the helm of Kerala, currently the only Left-ruled state in the country, for nine years, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had earlier been the state CPI(M) secretary for 18 years, is now the subject of a documentary, 'Pinarayi the Legend', released ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The CPI(M)-backed Kerala Secretariat Employees Association (KSEA) has produced this documentary, which was released on May 28 in the state capital to mark the Vijayan-led LDF government's fourth anniversary in its second consecutive term. Tamil actor-politician Kamal Haasan launched the documentary in the presence of Vijayan and a slew of Left leaders. Speaking during the launch of the documentary, Vijayan said, 'I realise that the love you (KSEA) have shown me is your support and love towards the LDF. You have depicted that support considering me as its symbol.' Although the glorification of a personality is not in sync with the CPI(M)'s ideology and policies, the documentary has been released by the KSEA barely four months after it launched a ballad celebrating Vijayan. Penned by a government employee linked to the association, the song was sung by 100 women during the KSEA's golden jubilee building inauguration. The song, which was performed in the presence of Vijayan, compared the CM to a 'phoenix' and the 'general of an army'. Earlier, in 2022, during a CPI(M) district conference in Thiruvananthapuram, the party had arranged a mega thiruvathira, a traditional dance performed by women in the state, with hundreds of dancers performing to the tune of a song praising Vijayan. The song described Vijayan as 'karana bhuthan (the cause or person behind) the party shining across the world', and depicted him as the 'saviour' when severe flooding struck Kerala in 2018. However, despite the party facing criticism for promoting a personality cult, CPI(M) state committee member M V Jayarajan maintains that Vijayan's legacy is worthy of such celebrations. 'The documentary cannot be considered as worship of an individual. It is about the legendary life of Vijayan and the good things his government has done over the last nine years. The documentary might have celebrated the government's achievements and it has got a historical perspective also,' said Jayarajan. 'Vijayan, as a leader of the student movement, had been in the forefront of the fight for universal education. After he became the CM, he ensured infrastructure development in schools in Kerala, spending around Rs 5,000 crore. Nobody can deny his long legacy and days of torture during the emergency period,' Jayarajan added. Besides organising various cultural events on Vijayan's legacy, several CPI(M) leaders seemed to have conferred a cult status on the CM. Last year, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan had described Vijayan as the 'burning sun'. In April 2024, when Vijayan travelled abroad after polling ended in the Lok Sabha elections, senior party leader A K Balan countered allegations that the CM did not campaign for the INDIA bloc candidates outside Kerala by saying, 'Even God rested after six days of creating the universe, then why not Vijayan?' Vijayan's case notwithstanding, the CPI(M) has traditionally opposed hero worship. In 2009, when Vijayan was the state CPI(M) secretary, there was some unease in the party over the individual popularity of his party rival and then CM V S Achuthanandan. Known as a crowd-puller among the CPI(M) leaders, Achuthanandan created an impression that he had grown beyond the party, leading Vijayan to publicly say that 'outside the party, a leader is nothing'. Vijayan buttressed his point by citing lines from an Urdu anecdote, giving the example of a boy who tried to collect the roaring sea into a bucket. When the water in the bucket did not generate waves, Vijayan said, the child was told that the water attained its full strength only when it was in the sea. Similarly, Vijayan said, a leader gained support when he remained within the party. In 2018, when CPI(M) activists in Kannur released a video titled 'Crimson son of Kannur' on senior leader P Jayarajan, the CPI(M) had come out against it, saying that the personality cult will not be accepted. Jayarajan came under fire for allegedly glorifying himself and thus going against the party's practices. The principal Opposition Congress has now targeted the CPI(M) for centralising power for a single person in a departure from its previous practices. State Congress spokesperson Jyothikumar Chamakkala said, 'The LDF, CPI(M) and the party-led government have got centralised to a single person Vijayan… None in the CPI(M) is courageous enough to speak out against Vijayan turning into an autocrat and promoting hero worship culture… Decades back, it was the CPI(M) that stood for decentralisation of power in the state government.'
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Indo-Pak tensions cast shadow over Nilambur Assembly bypoll in Kerala
The Indo-Pakistan tensions along the border have cast a cloud of uncertainty over the Nilambur assembly by-election in Kerala. With by-elections also pending in border states like Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat, the recent tension makes it increasingly unlikely that the Election Commission will go ahead with polling only in Nilambur while holding off in the other states. One person who might quietly welcome this uncertainty is Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Nilambur seat was held since 2016 by P.V. Anvar, who contested as a CPI(M)-backed independent. However, after a prolonged fallout with Vijayan, Anvar stunned political circles by resigning as MLA in January and pledging support to the Congress-led UDF. Anvar, who had defeated strong Congress candidates in both 2016 and 2021, further surprised everyone by announcing that he would not contest the by-election himself -- much to the relief of the UDF. A political observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the delay in the by-election could be politically convenient for the Chief Minister. 'Just the other day, LDF convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan declared they were on track for a third straight Vijayan-led government in 2026. But retaining Nilambur -- a seat they've held for two consecutive terms -- was already looking like a challenge. If they were to lose it, the narrative of a third-term wave would take a significant hit. So, a postponement suits them,' the observer said. Earlier this month, election officials had completed preparatory work, including the revision of the electoral roll and identification of polling stations. But with hostilities flaring at the border soon after, plans have since been left in limbo. Nilambur, traditionally a Congress stronghold, was won by Anvar in 2016 with a margin of over 10,000 votes. However, his victory margin dropped to less than 3,000 in 2021. Now aligned against Vijayan, Anvar has vowed to help the Congress win the seat with its largest-ever margin -- though the current geopolitical situation has thrown all calculations off course.
India Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Adani port in Communist state triggers 3-cornered credit fight
The inauguration of the Adani-made Vizhinjam International Seaport in Communist-ruled Kerala by PM Narendra Modi on Friday triggered a three-way tussle for credit. The high-profile commissioning ceremony of India's first deepwater transshipment port ignited a fierce political tussle among the CPI(M), Congress, and BJP over who made the project a ceremony, presided over by PM Modi, was attended by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, might have several political takeaways, but the tug-of-war over credit reveals the project's is the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, where the project is located. Thiruvananthapuram's Vizhinjam seaport is India's first deepwater transshipment port. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore under a public-private partnership (PPP) with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ). It is poised to transform Kerala's economy and bolster India's position on the global trade CLAIMS ITS 9-YEAR RULE TURNED PORT INTO REALITYThe ruling CPI(M), led by CM Vijayan, has positioned itself as the architect of the Vizhinjam project. It has attributed its success to the party's nine-year governance in the southern who was present at the inauguration alongside PM Modi and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, said, "Kerala is bearing the majority of the cost, Rs 5,370.86 crore out of the total Rs 8,686 crore", subtly downplaying the Centre's described the port as "a historic investment by the state", marking "the beginning of a new era in India's maritime trade".Not just Vijayan, the CPI(M) roped in another stalwart to claim credit for the Left state secretary MV Govindan Master said that if anyone can be given the fatherhood of the Vizhinjam project, it is former Chief Minister EK Nayanar, who led Left governments in the state from 1980-1981, 1987-1991 and again 1996-2001. "Nayanar is the one who launched the Vizhinjam project," MV Govindan told India Today CPI(M) also highlighted its role in overcoming hurdles, including protests by local fishermen in 2022, to bring the project to the CPI(M)'s narrative drew the sharpest criticism from the Congress, which alleged that the efforts by the Grand Old Party had been sidelined and WANTS VIZHINJAM PORT NAMED AFTER OOMMEN CHANDYThe Congress, leading the United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition, vehemently contested the CPI(M)'s claims of credit. The Congress, which is eyeing to dislodge the Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), asserted that the project's foundation was laid by the Oommen Chandy-led government in 2015, adding the port be named after the former Congress who passed away in 2023, signed the initial agreement with the Adani Group in August 2015. His government had then faced massive criticism from the opposition over the of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly and Congress leader VD Satheesan, who claimed he boycotted the inauguration ceremony, accused the CPI(M) of "hijacking credit" and attempting to "erase Chandy's legacy"."Those who deliberately try to forget or rewrite history are the ones who fear even the memories of Oommen Chandy," Satheesan wrote on Facebook, sharing a 2015 video of the Congress leader's speech on the port's MLA M Vincent, representing the Kovalam constituency where the port is located, paid tribute to Chandy at his tomb before attending the ceremony, calling him the "father of the Vizhinjam Port".BJP SAYS VIZHINJAM PORT PART OF PM MODI'S VISIONThe BJP, led in Kerala by state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has framed the Vizhinjam port as a cornerstone of Prime Minister Modi's vision for India's maritime and economic speaking to news agency PTI, said the Vizhinjam port was a result of the Narendra Modi-led Centre's steadfast support."The Vizhinjam port is part of PM Modi's vision of having a large number of ports around India that will improve India's global trade competitiveness and make India an increasing hub for manufacturing. Vizhinjam is one of those ports and the government of India has been steadfast in supporting the development of that port despite many delays over the last several years," Chandrasekhar told news agency Modi himself took a swipe at the opposition INDIA bloc during the event, noting the presence of CPI(M)'s Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on stage, taunting that the inauguration of the Vizhinjam Port would give "sleepless nights" to credit war over the Vizhinjam port has now turned into a political flashpoint, with each party leveraging it to bolster its electoral prospects in Kerala, whose Assembly goes to polls before May CPI(M) and Congress, traditional rivals in Kerala, but part of the INDIA bloc, are both fancying their chances. And the BJP's fight for credit, in a state where it has historically struggled to gain ground, shows it also sees itself in the KERALA'S VIZHINJAM PORT IS A GAME-CHANGERIrrespective of the political claim-game and what implications it might have on elections next year, the Vizhinjam port is a rare convergence of Communist governance and corporate enterprise. The seaport, which has emerged as a remarkable success story in the Communist state, will go on to boost the state's by the Adani Group, the port topped cargo handling charts among 15 Indian ports in February, a feat Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed as an "amazing achievement". The milestone came just three months after the port began commercial near Thiruvananthapuram and strategically positioned close to major international shipping routes, Vizhinjam handled 78,833 TEUs of cargo from 40 ships in February, surpassing ports like Kochi and far, the Vizhinjam port project has directly generated over 2,000 jobs and indirectly supported around 5,000 livelihoods in the region, reported the Indian Express, citing inputs from project officials. With the port now operational, local businesses, from transportation to food services, have reported a sharp rise in demand. This will signal a ripple effect on the regional economy, which is mostly VIZHINJAM SEAPORT STORY SO FARHowever, the Vizhinjam port project's journey was anything but political opposition and massive protests by Latin church-backed fisherfolk concerned about coastal erosion and loss of livelihood, Vijayan pushed ahead with it. The Left veteran stood firm in support of the public-private partnership with the Adani Group, which had been in the crosshairs of his national coalition partner and local rival, the India's first deep-water, fully automated container transshipment port, will operate under a 40-year agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ. The Kerala government provided 500 acres and signed the project under the DBFOT model in 2015 under Oomman operations began in October 2023, and Phase One was completed by December 2024. With plans to expand capacity to 4.5 million TEUs by 2028 and an investment of over Rs 10,000 crore, the port is expected to become a key node in global maritime Vizhinjam International Seaport, with a natural water depth of 18–20 meters and proximity to international shipping routes, the port is designed to handle large container vessels and reduce India's reliance on foreign ports like Colombo and Dubai. As PM Modi said, the Vizhinjam port is the "symbol of new-age development", adding, "On the one hand, there is this big sea with so many opportunities, and on the other hand, there is the beauty of nature. In between, there is this Vizhinjam Seaport."Must Watch
