Nilambur bypoll campaign draws to a noisy close

The three-week campaign for the June 19 Nilambur Assembly byelection ended with a bang on Tuesday evening as key contestants showcased their strength and popularity in separate final rallies in Nilambur town.

The campaign curtain fell at 6 p.m., 48 hours before the closing of the ballot, with Nilambur town erupting in a frenzied finale as candidates and supporters rallied in their designated areas, marking one of the most raucous campaign conclusions the town has ever seen.

In a closely contested battle where Left Democratic Front (LDF)‘s M. Swaraj and United Democratic Front (UDF)’s Aryadan Shoukath are front-runners, other key players like BJP’s Mohan George, All India Trinamool Congress State convener P.V. Anvar, and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Sadik Naduthodi are also vying for votes, adding to the election’s competitive landscape.

All the key players except Mr. Anvar, who is contesting as an Independent, took part in the frenzied finale. The police had allotted different areas for the key players to prevent any untoward incident.

The Calicut-Nilambur-Gudalur road passing through Nilambur town was the stage for the finale. While UDF workers and leaders gathered in strength between Hospital Junction and Milma Booth, BJP workers and leaders gathered between Hospital Junction and Safa Gold Jewellery. LDF workers had their electioneering finale between Maharani Junction and the Nilambur Police Station. SDPI workers took out their final show at lower Chandakkunnu.

The police had allotted Chandakkunnu bus stand premises to Mr. Anvar. But he chose to reach out to voters in person instead of organising a grand finale.

Mr. Shoukath took out a roadshow from Vazhikkadavu to Nilambur, and took part in the final moments of the electioneering in Nilambur town. Several Congress leaders took part in the finales held at Edakkara and Nilambur. Mr. Swaraj too joined the finale after attending a colourful roadshow.

Nearly two lakh voters in Nilambur will go to polling booths on Thursday to elect their MLA. Mr. Anvar had stepped down on January 13 as the LDF’s Independent MLA of Nilambur after he fell out with the CPI(M), leading to the byelection.

Published - June 17, 2025 08:35 pm IST