Political churnings in Kerala over dissident ruling front MLA P V Anvar's arrest

Thiruvananthapuram: While Congress' strong criticism against the late night arrest of a dissident ruling front MLA in Kerala triggered speculations that P V Anvar's entry to the Congress-led United Democratic Front is in the offing, some coalition partners of the Congress have raised caution.

Anvar, who was held on charges of causing damage to a forest office at Nilambur in Malappuram following the death of a person in a wild elephant attack, was granted bail by a court on Monday.

Leader of opposition of the Congress V D Satheesan strongly flayed the late night arrest of Anvar. He said that there was no need for the police to surround the MLA's house and arrest him.

Many other Congress leaders also flayed the late night arrest of Anvar, which triggered speculations that Anvar's attempts to enter the Congress-led UDF was becoming fruitful.

However, some coalition partners of the Congress raised a caution citing lack of clarity in Anvar's politics.

RSP leader Shibu Baby John said that there was lack of clarity in Anvar's politics. Hence a decision on taking him in the UDF should be taken only after there was clarity in his politics.

Anvar, who won as a CPM-backed independent MLA from Nilambur in Malappuram, has been locking horns with the Pinarayi Viayan government over a host of issues over the last few months. He left the LDF and formed Democratic Movement of Kerala. Though he tried to join hands with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, it did not work out mainly due to the cordial relationship between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan.

Hence Anvar was exploring the option of making an entry to the Congress-led UDF.