Not joining UDF, will not contest in Nilambur bypoll: P.V. Anvar

P.V. Anvar
| Photo Credit: K K Mustafah

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Kerala State convener P.V. Anvar has categorically said that he will not be part of the United Democratic Front (UDF). He has also made it clear that he will not contest the June 19 Assembly byelection in Nilambur.

Addressing the media at his house at Edavanna on Saturday (May 31, 2025), Mr. Anvar expressed his disappointment with the UDF, stating that the front had given him “false hopes and kept him waiting” despite his assurance that he would support their chosen candidate.

“Those I considered friends are showing their true colours as foes. They criticise me for being outspoken and label me arrogant. But I will not change. I will continue to be outspoken. My commitment is to the people,” he said.

Mr. Anvar stressed that it was Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan who resisted his entry into the UDF. “I do not believe he has any personal animosity against me. I am convinced that there is a lobby influencing him, trying to create an impression that the UDF candidate will win even without P.V. Anvar’s support in Nilambur,” he said.

Mr. Anvar said that it was Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty alone who stood by him after he left the Left Democratic Front (LDF). “Mr. Kunhalikutty has been persisting and trying his best to make me part of the UDF. I told him not to beg others for me,” he said.

‘No money to contest’

Mr. Anvar, whose resignation as an LDF independent MLA has brought in the June 19 byelection in Nilambur, said that he was still desirous of contesting from Nilambur. “But I do not have any money. It requires crores of rupees to contest this election. The whole machinery of both fronts will be in Nilambur. I am too weak for them,” he said.

Mr. Anvar said that he had been cornered from all sides and financially strangulated after he stepped out of the LDF. “I had lakhs of rupees income. I am destroyed by these people. I spoke for the people. IPS and IAS lobbies, RSS, LDF and all others squeezed me and destroyed me. Now I have zero income,” he said.

Mr. Anvar said that LDF candidate M. Swaraj was a strong exponent of “Pinarayism”, an ideology that ought to be opposed tooth and nail.

“Swaraj is from Nilambur. Did he ever visit Nilambur or speak for the settler farmers of Nilambur when they were being attacked by wild animals? Did he say a word when the police under Sujith Das targetted the Muslim youth in Malappuram? He speaks for the Muslims of Palestine and against global Islamophobia, but remains silent on local issues. Nilambur faced a devastating flood in 2019. Did he ever show up with some help for the flood victims?”