Thiruvananthapuram: The 19 June Nilambur assembly bypoll is making headlines in Kerala, not because of the contest itself, but a state Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader extending and then retracting support to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
While UDF has largely remained tight-lipped, former MLA P.V. Anvar’s gesture was seen as driven by his strategic ambition to maintain his political relevance in a constituency widely considered his stronghold. Anvar, who represented Nilambur in Malappuram as an LDF-aligned independent MLA since 2016, resigned in January, declaring an “open war” against the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which he targeted for alleged corruption.
Since then, he actively sought to join the UDF, engaging with leaders from both the Congress and its key ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which holds significant sway in the Malappuram district. But TMC leaders in Kerala said the party had nothing to do with Anvar’s now-withdrawn offer of support, it was not discussed with them, and that he has not made any efforts to set up a party committee since joining TMC in January this year.
Despite its presence in the state since 2008, TMC has not been successful in expanding its footprint in Kerala. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it fielded five candidates in the state but failed to secure even one percent of the votes.
Walking back his offer to UDF, Anvar told the media Saturday that he was not interested anymore in being part of the Congress-led alliance. He also clarified that he would not contest the Nilambur bypoll, claiming he did not have the funds to fight an election.
“He [Anvar] is trying to do all this for his personal benefits,” TMC state leader C.G. Unny told ThePrint. The TMC has no plans to contest the bypoll, nor have there been any discussions regarding supporting an alliance, he said, suggesting that if Anvar were to contest, he’d be an independent candidate without party backing.
The byelection holds much significance in Kerala’s current political landscape, taking place months before the crucial local body polls and nearly a year before the assembly elections.
A victory in Nilambur is crucial to the Congress-led UDF’s political survival in the state, especially after two consecutive assembly poll defeats.
On the other hand, a win for the CPI(M)-led LDF, which is hoping for a third consecutive stint in power, would be a shot in the arm for the Pinarayi-led government.
Anvar’s support, given his considerable popularity in the constituency, could help UDF reclaim the seat, which the Congress held from 1987 until 2016 through senior Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed. UDF fielded Muhammed’s son, Aryadan Shoukath, in the seat in the 2016 assembly polls. He lost to Anvar by 11,504 votes.
On Friday, LDF Friday declared popular CPI(M) leader M. Swaraj as its candidate in Nilambur. Hailing from Nilambur, the CPI(M) state secretariat member holds significant popularity even outside the party’s traditional support base.
Addressing the media at party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram Friday, CPI(M) general secretary M.V. Govindan said the party had decided to field its popular leader on its party symbol. He added that the CPI(M) is aware of UDF’s internal conflicts there.
“Swaraj needs no introduction there. Anvar is a betrayer of the LDF. Now, whatever the issues he has in the constituency are regarding the UDF, and not ours,” he said.
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UDF, TMC on offer
Anvar, known for his rebellious streak, was holding daily press conferences to further his case since the Election Commission announced the bypoll dates. In one such briefing, the former MLA voiced his disapproval of Aryadan Shoukath, but stated his willingness to align with “any devil to defeat Pinarayi,” provided it was “a good one”.
Days later, Anvar criticised the Congress leadership, including the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala V.D. Satheesan, alleging he was being sidelined and humiliated despite his expressed interest in supporting the UDF in this election. “Even after withdrawing our candidate in Palakkad, UDF did not fulfil its promise. No one even thanked me after the results. I supported Priyanka (Gandhi) in Wayanad, helped UDF gain control in the Panamaram and Chungathara panchayats, yet Satheesan remained unreachable,” he said.
He added that months after expressing interest in joining UDF, he has yet to receive a response. He claimed if he chose to contest Nilambur as an independent, he would secure the support of his party, with leaders like Mamata Banerjee campaigning for him.
Kerala Congress leader M. Liju attributed the delay in responding to Anvar’s offer to deliberations with the party’s central as well as state leadership. But, he emphasised that UDF cannot accept Anvar’s comments against the UDF candidate or party leaders.
“We welcome Anvar’s stand against the Pinarayi Vijayan government. He can support UDF. But at the same time, we can’t accept what he said against our leaders and candidates. If he takes it back, he can be a part of the UDF,” Liju said, adding UDF was confident of winning even without Anvar’s support.
“Last time, we lost to Anvar by a small margin. But at the same time, if we get his support, it’s good. Because we don’t want to lose even one vote,” he said.
K.P. Sethunath, a Kerala-based political analyst and former journalist, said Anvar is making it appear as though the Left Front has a fighting chance in Nilambur, a constituency where UDF previously held a clear advantage.
“In places like Kerala, where two fronts are really strong, it’s difficult to survive as an individual political entity,” Sethunath told ThePrint. “He [Anvar] couldn’t get into UDF as UDF said they can only cooperate with TMC. His political career is a big question mark after the election as his earlier victory could be pictured as part of CPM’s organisational strength and not his individual merit. But on the other hand, if Aryadan Shoukath fails, it would become an ‘Anvar impact’. By default, he is becoming an advantage to CPI(M).”
Sethunath added that media attention played a major role in Anvar’s rise to prominence, and that he was often described as a Pinarayi loyalist.
The ‘Anvar element’ in Nilambur
P.V. Anvar comes from an influential Malabar family with strong ties to the Indian National Congress (INC) dating back to the Independence movement. He began his political journey with the Congress student wing, the Kerala Students Union (KSU).
He served as students’ union chairman at the MES Mampad College and subsequently became vice president of Malappuram Youth Congress. However, he was expelled from the party in 2010 for opposing certain leaders amidst internal factionalism.
In the 2016 assembly elections, Anvar contested as an LDF-backed independent candidate and defeated Aryadan Shoukath of the Congress in Nilambur.
Prior to this, the constituency was considered a UDF stronghold, with Shoukath’s father and former minister Aryadan Muhammed representing it since 1987.
In 2021, Anvar retained the seat as an Independent with LDF support, securing a victory against V.V. Prakash of the Congress by a margin of 2,700 votes.
However, circumstances changed in September 2024, when Anvar openly criticised the chief minister’s close associates, including then ADGP (Law & Order) A.P. Ajith Kumar, IPS Officer Sujith Das, and political secretary P. Sasi, accusing them of corruption.
He said that, despite him personally submitting a complaint to Vijayan, no action was taken. In a press conference held in his constituency, Anvar said he felt “cheated” by Vijayan, whom he once regarded as a “father figure”.
Months later, in January 2025, Anvar resigned from his Nilambur seat, declaring an open war against the chief minister with the stated aim to “end” LDF rule. A week prior to his resignation, Anvar had joined the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) after his attempts to join the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu proved unsuccessful.
A local resident and sports teacher in Nilambur told ThePrint requesting anonymity that Anvar possesses a significant ‘fan base’ in the constituency. “He always has cinematic public appeal. It’s mostly because of his money. Even when he comes for a function, he would have few guards surrounding him.”
According to 2023 data from the Kerala Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Anvar was the wealthiest MLA in Kerala and 149th richest MLA in the country at the time, with Rs 64.14 crore in declared assets.
He owns several businesses, including PVR Naturo Resorts in Kozhikode, which offers adventure tourism, including jungle safaris. Anvar also owns P.V.R. Developers, a real estate company specializing in luxury apartments and residential projects.
Incidentally, after Anvar left LDF, UDF wrested control of the Chungathara panchayat with his assistance. P. Abdul Hameed, an IUML leader and the MLA of Malappuram’s Vallikkunnu constituency, told ThePrint Anvar would indeed assist UDF in the upcoming by-election.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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