Nilambur bypoll in Kerala: P.V. Anvar threatens to field Trinamool candidate if UDF continues to ‘ignore’ him

P. V. Anvar | Photo Credit: K K Mustafah

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Kerala State convener P.V. Anvar has threatened to field a Trinamool candidate in the June 19 Nilambur byelection if the United Democratic Front (UDF) continued to “ignore” him.

“I have been told by my party leadership not to beg shamelessly, and to field a candidate if needed. Party chairperson Mamata Banerjee and at least 10 MPs will come to campaign for me in Nilambur,” said Mr. Anvar at Edavanna near Malappuram on Wednesday (May 28, 2025).

Mr. Anvar blamed the Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan for “insulting him” by maintaining uncertainty over his role in and relations with the UDF. “He (Mr. Satheesan) promised me to announce our collaboration within two days when I met him and lunched with him at a friend’s house on May 15. Nothing happened since,” he said.

He described feeling “utterly exposed and humiliated, like he had been stripped bare and left to face the streets, with mud being thrown in his face.”

“Now there is only one person. I am going to talk to K.C. Venugopal,” he said.

Mr. Anvar reiterated that he had personal differences with UDF’s candidate Aryadan Shoukath. “That is a personal thing. A different thing. I will discuss it when time comes,” he said.

“I wanted a candidate who is acceptable to all in Nilambur. The UDF should not lose a single vote because of the candidate,” he said, explaining why he opposed the candidature of Mr. Shoukath.

He said the people of Kerala should be convinced through the voting pattern in the Nilambur byelection that the LDF is not going to return to power for a third term. “We needed such a candidate,” he said, sticking to his guns that Mr. Shoukath was unfit to pull such a victory against the LDF in Nilambur.

Published - May 28, 2025 01:12 pm IST