Latest news with #Pinarayism
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nilambur loss a warning for LDF as anti-Pinarayi sentiment gains ground in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Can Nilambur be considered a harbinger of the turn Kerala politics will take in 2026? More than losing a sitting seat, what would be deeply worrying for the Left would be the underscoring fact that the poll outcome as a whole could be termed a verdict against what P V Anvar terms 'Pinarayism'. That Anvar polled close to 20,000 votes clearly goes to show a political climate wherein an anti-Pinarayi sentiment can be utilised to reap electoral gains. This is a rude wake-up call to avowed Leftists who continue to behave like ostriches with their head in the sand, refusing to acknowledge their fast-eroding base of voters in Kerala. The first-time loss of a sitting seat during the second Pinarayi term has cast a shadow over the Left's hopes of a consecutive third term. As local body polls approach, the writing on the wall is clear for the front. Obviously, a major course correction, for both LDF and Pinarayi, in addition to setting a poll agenda that doesn't revolve around Pinarayi alone, has become inevitable. Bad calls? Overemphasis on UDF's pact with Jamaat-e-Islami, miscalculations over fissures within UDF, presumption the Anvar factor would eat only into the UDF vote base might have went wrong for LDF. Still, It succeeded in protecting its mass base
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nilambur bypoll: Anvar reasserts political relevance with strong showing
Kozhikode: Former MLA PV Anvar, who surprised both the leading fronts by securing 19,760 votes (11.23%), has reasserted his political relevance in Nilambur, though he had to be content with the third spot. 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.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
4 takeaways from Congress's bypoll victory in Kerala's Nilambur
In the keenly contested by-election held in Kerala's Nilambur assembly seat today, the Congress has wrested the seat from the LDF, with its candidate Aryadan Shoukath defeating his nearest rival, CPI(M)'s M Swaraj, by around 10,000 votes. The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of two-term CPI(M)-backed Independent legislator P V Anvar, who also contested as an Independent this time. The constituency, which falls within the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat represented by Congress's Priyanka Gandhi, registered 75.87 per cent polling. Shoukath is the son of late Congress veteran Aryadan Muhammed, who had represented the seat from 1987 to 2016. Congress had approached the by-election as a mandate against the nine-year regime of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This is the first by-election held since 2021 in which Congress has managed to wrest back a seat from the LDF; in previous by-elections, Congress could only retain its sitting seats. The party's victory would boost its confidence to fight local body elections later this year and the assembly elections in April-May next year. To secure a win, the Congress had to fight not only its nearest rival, the CPI(M), but also Anvar. Within the Congress, the verdict will cement the clout of Opposition leader V D Satheesan, who led the campaign machinery. The win is also a consolation for the new state leadership under KPCC president Sunny Joseph, who replaced K Sudhakaran last month. Satheesan had opposed Anvar's demand that he be allowed to associate with the UDF in Nilambur, and a defeat would have weakened Satheesan's supremacy in the UDF and the Congress. The defeat of the party's candidate comes close on the heels of the Vijayan government completing nine years in power. Asserting that the LDF government does not face any anti-incumbency, the CPI(M) has already begun a campaign for a third consecutive term next year when the state goes to the polls. In Nilambur, CPI(M) had fielded its own candidate, in a departure from the past practice of backing Independents. However, the party failed to neutralise anti-incumbency by launching the young leader. At the same time, the verdict from hinterland Nilambur cannot be taken as a harbinger of what awaits in the assembly elections next year. By gaining around 19,000 votes, Anvar has demonstrated his influence in Nilambur, the constituency which he represented since 2016 as a CPI(M)-backed Independent. In a way, he split the anti-LDF votes, a section of which would have otherwise gone to the Congress kitty. Anvar has declared that he is in the election fray to defeat 'Pinarayism' (style of functioning). The future of Anvar, who is the state coordinator of the TMC, depends on the approach of the Congress, which has so far kept the doors shut on his intention to associate with the UDF. That Anvar has no clout outside Nilambur will be a factor which the Congress will weigh before taking a decision. Besides, despite Anvar posing a challenge, the Congress managed a win with a sizeable margin. BJP candidate Mohan George finished fourth behind the Congress, the CPI(M) and Anvar. The BJP, under its new state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, was reluctant to contest the by-election, claiming that it would not bring any change in the state politics when assembly elections are less than a year away. In the constituency where 45 per cent of the electorate are Hindus (as per the 2011 census), the party picked a local Christian leader from the regional Christian party, the Kerala Congress. Christians formed a little under 8 per cent of the electorate in the seat.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kerala Bypolls: Counting begins in Nilambur seat, Congress candidate leads in early trends
Counting of votes for the bypoll in the Nilambur Assembly seat in Kerala's Malappuram district began at 8 am Monday. Early trends show that Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath is leading as the first round of counting was in progress. The constituency voted on June 19 after CPI(M)-backed two-time Independent legislator P V Anvar quit last year. The Nilambur Assembly seat, which falls within the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat represented by the Congress's Priyanka Gandhi, had registered 75.87 per cent of polling. In the first stage of counting, 1,403 postal votes will be opened before unlocking Electronic Voting Machines, which had recorded 1,74,667 votes. Votes in electronic machines will be counted in 19 rounds. The CPI(M) has fielded its young party state secretariat member M Swaraj, and the Congress has nominated Shoukath, the son of late party veteran Aryadan Muhammed, who had uninterruptedly represented the seat from 1987 to 2016. Anvar, who had quit raising a revolt against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is contesting as an Independent candidate. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Mohan George, who had been with the regional Christian party Kerala Congress before embracing the BJP after the by-election schedule was declared. The bypoll outcome is crucial for the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF regime and the Congress-led Opposition UDF as the Kerala Assembly elections are slated for April-May 2026. A victory in the by-election will serve as a major boost for the Pinarayi Vijayan regime, which is gearing up for a third consecutive term. Anvar has declared that he is in the election fray to defeat 'Pinarayism,' (style of functioning). Congress, which has been in Opposition for the last nine years, has stated that it is fighting to prove the anti-incumbency factor against the Vijayan regime.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Rain, rallies & rhetoric mark final day
Kozhikode: The three-week campaign for the high-stakes Nilambur bypoll — whose timing before the local body polls and 2026 assembly election gave it significant political importance — came to an end on Monday. Despite heavy rain in Nilambur town, major political parties undertook a high-octane kottikalasham (festive closing ceremony), turning it into a vibrant show of strength. UDF's Aryadan Shoukath, LDF's M Swaraj and NDA's Mohan George held impressive roadshows, arriving at their designated spots in town with flags, drums, DJ music and campaign songs that added colour to the event. Independent candidate PV Anvar, who triggered the bypoll by resigning his MLA post, skipped the grand finale and focused on grassroots outreach in Amarambalam panchayat. While UDF framed the bypoll as a semi-final before assembly elections and a 'public trial' of the Pinarayi Vijayan govt's nine years of alleged misrule, LDF pitched it as a vote to continue the govt's development and welfare initiatives. Factors that made the bypoll an intense contest included the 'do-or-die' campaign by Congress and IUML in Nilambur, the energizing of Left cadres after CPM state secretariat member M Swaraj was fielded to retain the seat and the dramatic entry of Anvar as an independent candidate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot And Wait 3 Minutes Undo BJP, initially lukewarm in its approach, ramped up its campaign in recent days focusing on Christian voters with George as its candidate and positioning itself as a development alternative. Anvar is running a silent campaign (except for his roadshow led by TMC MP Yusuf Pathan on Monday) seeking votes against 'Pinarayism' and the political nexus he claims includes opposition leader VD Satheesan. The final day of the campaign saw high-voltage rallies. Swaraj began his roadshow from Vazhikkadavu at 9am and reached Nilambur by 3:30pm. He told supporters that although the opposition tried to rake up controversies and sow seeds of division and hatred, LDF stayed focused on development and solving people's issues. Shoukath also led a roadshow from Vazhikkadavu in an open vehicle accompanied by leaders, including Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and many supporters on two-wheelers. He urged people to turn the bypoll into a strong verdict against nine years of neglect in Nilambur and Kerala. Around 4:30pm, Shoukath and Swaraj stood in the rain and addressed their supporters. George, who also held a roadshow, said many voters want change, with support crossing traditional party lines in his favour. Over 2.3 lakh voters are expected to vote on June 19 in the bypoll.
