P.V. Anvar, Trinamool Congress’ Kerala coordinator, announces new political front

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

Seemingly piqued by the Congress’ rejection of his attempt to find an accommodation in the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) State coordinator P.V. Anvar has announced the formation of a new political front in Kerala. 

Mr. Anvar said in Malappuram on Monday (June 2, 2025) that he has named the new alliance Janakiya Prathipaksha Prathirodha Munnani” (JPPM). He claimed that the Aam Admi Party (AAP) would join the coalition. 

Notably, AAP workers wearing Nehru caps and sporting the party’s flag flocked in front of the Nilambur taluk office, anticipating Mr. Anvar’s arrival to file his nomination papers. 

AAP State president Vinod Mathew Wilson told a television news channel that the party’s national leadership would soon take a call.

‘A people’s alternative’

Mr. Anvar characterised the new alliance as “a people’s alternative to Kerala’s Congress-Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] revolving door politics”.

He said the JPPM would also emerge as a bulwark of secularism against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) brand of “majoritarian identity politics.”

It would champion the cause of settlerfarmers, autorickshaw drivers, rubber tappers, fishers and the working class, he said.

Mr. Anvar said the JPPM would give political expression to people and groups frustrated with the established alliances in Kerala. He said disgruntled allies, mostly small parties in the ruling front and the Opposition, would soon declare their allegiance for the JPPM.

Slams Satheesan

Mr. Anvar accused Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan of conspiring with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to deny the AITMC political space in Kerala. He alleged that Mr. Satheesan repeatedly won in the Paravoor Assembly constituency against “weak and lacklustre” candidates fielded by the Communist Party of India (CPI). 

Mr. Anvar alleged that Mr. Vijayan threatened Mr. Satheesan, stating that the CPI(M) would wrest the seat from the CPI and field a party candidate. He said Mr. Satheesan feared that a CPI(M) candidate would diminish his chances of retaining the Paravoor seat in the 2026 Assembly elections. 

‘Have compromising materials’

Mr. Anvar hinted he would pursue a muckraking and sensationalist campaign in the Nilambur byelection. “I will set up a television in Nilambur and broadcast the wrongdoings of the UDF candidate. I have compromising materials on certain leaders. I will make the proof publicly available. The JPPM campaign would tear the veneer of propriety of some public figures. I am collecting evidence on them”, he added. 

Mr. Anvar said he would contest under the AITMC symbol. However, he said the party was not registered in Kerala. “I might be constrained to use another symbol”, he added.

Published - June 02, 2025 12:48 pm IST