Anvar Launches Campaign, Supports V.S. Joy as Congress Nominee for Nilambur Bypoll in Kerala
Click to start listening
Synopsis
P.V. Anvar has publicly supported V.S. Joy as the Congress candidate for the upcoming Nilambur by-election in Kerala, signaling ongoing political tensions with Aryadan Shoukath.
Key Takeaways
- P.V. Anvar endorses V.S. Joy for Congress candidacy.
- Political tensions remain high with Aryadan Shoukath.
- Anvar's resignation from CPI(M) spurred his support for UDF.
- Party leadership remains silent on ticket decisions.
- Focus shifts to Shoukath's aspirations for the legacy.
Nilambur, April 18 (NationPress) As the Election Commission is set to announce the date for the Nilambur Assembly by-election in Kerala, former CPI(M)-affiliated legislator P.V. Anvar has initiated the political discourse by endorsing V.S. Joy, the president of the Malappuram District Congress Committee, as the Congress candidate for the upcoming election.
Anvar, a two-time MLA who recently resigned due to disagreements with the CPI(M), stated on Friday that Joy is the most suitable candidate for the Nilambur bypoll.
This public endorsement indicates that Anvar's long-standing issues with Aryadan Shoukath—whom he defeated in the 2016 Assembly election—are still unresolved.
Ever since Anvar ended the Congress' 29-year dominance over the Nilambur constituency—previously held by Shoukath’s father, the veteran leader Aryadan Mohammed—their relationship has been strained.
The divide between Anvar and Shoukath deepened further following Anvar’s resignation, which was reportedly due to his increasing discontent with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
After leaving the CPI(M), Anvar has been reaching out to the Congress-led UDF and even met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who approved his role as the Kerala coordinator for the Trinamool Congress.
He was later embraced at a UDF convention in Malappuram, where he announced that he would not run in the forthcoming bypoll.
Although both V.S. Joy and Aryadan Shoukath are contenders for the Congress ticket, the party leadership has remained tight-lipped.
Sources indicate that a meeting led by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, along with Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President K. Sudhakaran, has reached a decision.
However, the final announcement is anticipated only after discussions with the party high command.
With Anvar supporting Joy, the focus now shifts to Shoukath, who has long aspired to restore his father’s legacy in a constituency he once dominated.
