Shoukath files nomination for Nilambur bypoll

UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath filing his nomination before tahsildar M.P. Sindhu at Nilambur on Saturday.

United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukath filed his nomination on Saturday for the Assembly byelection in Nilambur being held on June 19. He filed two sets of nominations before tahsildar M.P. Sindhu, who is deputy election officer.

He took out a three-kilometre roadshow from Jyothipadi tpo Chandakkunnu bus-stand ahead of submitting the papers. P.V. Abdul Wahab, MP; Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president A.P. Anil Kumar, MLA; P. Abdul Hameed, MLA; District Congress Committee (DCC) president V.S. Joy; and district panchayat vice president Ismail Moothedam accompanied Mr. Shoukath.

Following the tradition of his late father Aryadan Mohammed, Mr. Shoukath accepted the deposit amount from INTUC workers of Pullangode Estate. The estate workers had given deposit amount to Aryadan Mohammed in all the 11 elections he contested.

Addressing crowds after the roadshow, Muslim Youth League State general secretary P.K. Firos said that Nilambur would declare the Pinaryi Vijayan government as a State disaster.

KPCC working president Shafi Prambil, MP, said that it was high time that the State got a new government. Youth Congress State president Rahul Mamkootathil said that the UDF’s victory in Nilambur will be like a sixer in the last over. He said it would be a big setback for the Pinarayi government after the failures of Thrikkakara, Puthuppally, and Palakkad.

Swaraj reaches Nilambur

Meanwhile, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M. Swaraj arrived at Nilambur on Saturday morning to a rousing welcome by CPI(M) workers. CPI(M) polit bureau member A. Vijayaraghavan; State committee members V. Sivadasan, MP, N. Chandran, E.N. Mohandas; district secretariat member E. Jayan; DYFI State secretary V.K. Sanoj; area secretaries E. Padmakshan and Raveendran Chungathara; and Nilambur municipal chairman Mattummal Saleem were among those who received Mr. Swaraj. A State secretariat member of the CPI(M), Mr. Swaraj is a native of Nilambur.

He took out a roadshow from Nilambur to Edakkara on Saturday evening. The roadshow started from Kodathippadi premises around 4 p.m. and concluded at Edakkara at 8.20 p.m. Dozens of LDF workers wearing T-shirts with Mr. Swaraj’s picture joined the roadshow. About 100 bikes were part of the road show. People welcomed Mr. Swaraj with red garlands.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will address an LDF election rally at Nilambur on Sunday afternoon.

Published - May 31, 2025 09:00 pm IST