Nilambur byelection: Strife within Cong remains unresolved; Jameela emerges as surprise candidate

Kozhikode: Since a reconciliation between V.S. Joy and Aryadan Shoukath over the Nilambur seat has become impossible, the Congress party is now considering a new candidate for the seat. The party has been forced to explore an alternative option following the failure of all efforts to appease both Joy and Shoukath.

In the Muslim-majority constituency, the Congress is leaning towards fielding a woman candidate from within the community. The leadership believes that awarding the seat to DCC President V.S. Joy would intensify internal discord. There are also indications that Aryadan Shoukath might leave the Congress and contest as a CPM candidate.

If Shoukath is fielded, it may prompt leaders like P.V. Anvar to take a stance unfavourable to the Congress. At the same time, Joy's supporters may stir unrest within the party. Despite multiple rounds of reconciliation talks aimed at finalising a candidate by satisfying both factions, no agreement has been reached so far. This has led the party to consider a third candidate.

As the Congress gives preference to a woman candidate, names under consideration include Aalippatta Jameela, the KPCC General Secretary and District Panchayat member from Thenhipalam. Jameela was appointed as KPCC General Secretary in 2021, having previously served as the State General Secretary of the Mahila Congress.

She began her active political journey in 2000 as the president of the Mahila Congress's Kalikavu unit and was elected president of the Kalikavu Panchayat in 2010. She contested district panchayat elections from Wandoor in 2015 and Thenhipalam in 2020. Currently, Jameela is serving as the member from the Thenhipalam division. Indications suggest that she is being given priority by the Congress party regarding the choice of candidate for the Nilambur constituency.