Nilambur to witness a three-cornered contest as P.V. Anvar enters fray as TMC candidate

The high-stakes Nilambur assembly byelection in Kerala is set to witness a three-cornered contest as Trinamool Congress (TMC) state convener P.V. Anwar, after many flip-flops, decided to enter the fray.

 

The two-time MLA, whose resignation necessitated the bypolls in the seat, said at a press conference in Malappuram that he would file his nominations on Monday.

 

He launched a scathing attack on opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and equated him with Adolf Hitler.

 

"As the UDF led by Satheesan has closed doors before us, the TMC has no other option. So, we are going to fight the election... I will file the nomination tomorrow," Anvar said. 

 

"I won't lick the feet of Satheesan anymore. My decision is to fight," he added.

 

Anvar had earlier said he would support the UDF candidate if he was inducted into the opposition alliance. The Congress-led alliance, however, made it clear that Anvar would be included in the front’s fold only if he withdrew his remarks against its candidate Aryadan Shoukath.

 

On Saturday, Anvar said he was not interested in being part of the UDF and he would not contest in the Nilambur bypolls either, as he did not have the money needed for it.

 

Anvar had won the seat in the 2021 assembly elections as an independent with the backing of the Left Democratic Front. He, however, quit the seat last year following his differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M).

 

In his press briefing on Sunday, Anvar said UDF candidate Shoukath would not succeed in the bypoll as he was not capable of opposing "Pinarayism".

 

Taking potshots at the chief minister, Anvar claimed it was Pinarayi Vijayan who warned Satheesan against including him in the UDF.

 

"Vijayan has threatened to field a stronger candidate in Satheesan's constituency, Paravur, in the 2026 Assembly polls and defeat him," he said, adding that it has forced Satheesan to keep him away from the UDF.

 

The CPI(M) has already announced M. Swaraj as its candidate.

India