P V Anvar (Inset: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan).
Credit: Facebook/PV ANVAR; PTI Photos
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress in Kerala has decided to join hands with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former left-front MLA of Nilambur in Malappuram district P V Anvar as the by-poll to Nilambur is expected soon.
However, a decision on Anvar's demand that TMC should be made part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is not yet taken.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan of the Congress told reporters after a meeting with Anvar that a decision on TMC's entry to UDF could be taken only after discussion with all coalition partners. He added that Anvar and UDF will work together in the Nilambur by-poll.
The AICC leadership was reportedly unhappy over Anvar's demand that TMC should be made part of UDF especially owing to the critical stand that TMC leader Mamamta Banerjee often takes against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Anvar was also learnt to have toned down his demand that a decision on TMC's entry to UDF should be taken before the by-poll and that Malappuram district Congress committee president V S Joy should be made candidate.
Anvar said that he would back the candidate of UDF.
A large section in the Congress was learnt to be backing Aryadan Shoukath, who is the son of former Nilambr MLA Aryadan Mohammed, as candidate.
Anvar is a two time MLA of Nilambur. He won as left front candidate in 2016 and 2021. But last year he left the left front owing to differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He resigned the MLA post to join the TMC and is now holding the position of TMC state coordinator.