Nilambur by-election: Congress not to succumb to TMC leader Anvar's pressure tactics over UDF candidate

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress in Kerala is not in any mood to succumb to the pressure tactics of TMC leader and former CPI(M)-backed independent MLA of Nilambur P V Anvar over the selection of Aryadan Shoukath as Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for Nilambur by-poll.

Anvar, who recently joined the TMC, has been playing pressure tactics aimed at ensuring his entry to the UDF. While he openly criticised the decision to field Shoukath as candidate, TMC local leaders said that Anvar would contest.

However, opposition leader V D Satheesan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph said on Tuesday that only if Anvar announces his cooperation with UDF in this election, the UDF would announce its stand on Anvar. Some Congress leaders even openly stated that the party need not succumb to the pressure tactics of Anvar.

The June 19 Nilambur bypoll is very crucial for the Congress as it could be a trend setter for the assembly general elections that are less than a year away. Hence, the pressure from Anvar.

Anvar won from Nilambur in 2016 and 2021 and the Congress is not in a position to outrightly reject him.

While Anvar earlier demanded that TMC should be made a coalition partner in the UDF, the AICC leadership was learnt to be not in favour of a coalition with the TMC in the state. The Congress gave the option of TMC being made an associate member of the UDF. However, a decision on the matter was pending.

Meanwhile, BJP was learnt to have decided to give the seat to coalition partner BDJS. In 2016 also BJP gave the seat to BDJS and it had secured 7.5 percent votes, whereas in 2021, BJP candidate could secure only less than five percent votes in Nilambur, which is in Malappuram district.

Discussion in the CPI(M) on its candidate selection is progressing and is yet to make any announcements.