Nilambur bypoll: Anvar reasserts political relevance with strong showing
Anvar, whose resignation as MLA after a public fallout with CPM necessitated the byelection, made inroads into the vote banks of both the fronts.
Anvar gave a jolt to the UDF by securing over 5,539 votes when the first four rounds of counting were completed when the margin between the candidates of two fronts was just 2,286 votes. The significant number of votes secured by Anvar in the UDF strongholds of Vazhikkadavu and Moothedam — from where the UDF hoped to secure early leads — caused concern in the Congress-led front.
However, UDF was able to gain some momentum in the subsequent rounds.
Anvar's campaign also managed to tap into the anti-incumbency sentiment, drawing votes from both the UDF and LDF bases. Notably, in several Left-dominated panchayats where CPM candidate M Swaraj underperformed, Anvar secured sizeable support.
The issues he had championed — ranging from human-wildlife conflict and police accountability to corruption allegations against the CMO — seemingly struck a chord with many voters.
He directed his attacks at both the ruling front and against UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath enabling him to secure both the anti- incumbency votes as well as the anti-Shoukath votes from the UDF.
After the results, Anvar told reporters that even the workers and supporters of CPM had abandoned the party. According to Anvar, the votes he and Shoukath received were both expressions of opposition among the voters towards 'Pinarayism'.
Anvar also dropped hints that he was open to align with UDF if he is provided entry to the front and declared that he was ready to make any sacrifice to defeat 'Pinarayism'. Anvar also said that he was open to contest the Beypore seat held by PWD minister PA Mohamed Riyas, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law.
With local body elections on the horizon, Anvar is expected to continue his efforts to gain formal entry into the UDF. His performance in Nilambur is likely to win him supporters within the front.
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