The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretariat in Kerala has nominated M. Swaraj as the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) candidate in the Nilambur Assembly byelection.
CPI(M) State secretary M. V. Govindan told a press conference here on Friday that Mr. Swaraj, a party State secretariat member, was a native of Nilambur with profound grassroots-level connections.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate Mr Swaraj’s election convention in Nilambur on June 1. Other LDF leaders will attend.
Mr Govindan termed P.V. Anvar, former LDF Independent legislator from Nilambur, a spent force. “Mr Anvar betrayed the trust of Nilambur voters and switched sides to align himself with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). His presence or absence in the electoral fray has no bearing on the LDF’s prospects”, Mr Govindan said.
Mr Govindan termed Mr Anvar’s “flailing attempts” to find a safe harbour in the UDF “pathetic”.
He said the UDF was bitterly divided over whether the alliance should provide Mr Anvar with honourable accommodation or tag him as a hanger-on and fellow traveller.
Mr Govindan said Mr Anvar had accused the UDF leadership of scorning his advances despite “falling to his knees in supplication”.
He said Mr Anvar’s “desperate” attempt to enter the UDF had widened the existing schisms in the Congress. “Congress leaders were split over whether to billet Mr Anvar and his party in the UDF. For one, Mr Anvar had driven a wedge between Congress leaders by singling out Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan as the person opposed to the former’s UDF entry.”
“The Congress is a divided house. Rivalry over prospective chief ministership, one-upmanship, factional feuding and petty power plays animate the Congress rather than politics or policy. Now, Mr Anvar’s entry has further roiled Congress’ internal politics”, he said.
Mr Govindan said “undercurrents and resentfulness within the Congress rank-and-file” would work against the UDF’s candidate, Aryadan Shoukath.
He said the CPI(M) would harness its organisational heft and exploit the profound divisions in the Opposition to catalyse the LDF’s election campaign.
He said Nilambur had a legacy of iconic class struggles, epitomised by the “martyrdom of comrade Kunjali”. The LDF had successfully fielded independents and party members in Nilambur several times.
Mr Swaraj told reporters that Nilambur would vote for the LDF government’s welfare, development and public service delivery.
“The byelection is a precursor to the LDF sweeping back to power for a third consecutive term in the 2026 Assembly elections,” he said.
The bypoll will be held on June 19.
Published – May 30, 2025 01:25 pm IST
