Congress not to withdraw Ramya Haridas; discussions with Anvar will continue

Palakkad: Following MLA P.V. Anvar's demand for the withdrawal of the UDF candidate to achieve consensus in the upcoming byelection, UDF leadership has decided not to comply. Congress leadership has clarified that the UDF will not withdraw its candidates from the Palakkad and Chelakkara constituencies, while discussions with Anvar regarding a potential consensus will continue.

Although Congress expressed a willingness to fight the election with Anvar's support, he insisted on the withdrawal of UDF candidate Ramya Haridas from the race and sought Congress's backing for Democratic Movement of Kerala (DMK) candidate N.K. Sudheer. However, the UDF has maintained that there will be no changes to the candidates previously announced.

Meanwhile, UDF stated that if Anvar offers unconditional support for the UDF, they would accept it. Anvar had announced his own candidates for Palakkad and Chelakkara but suggested a compromise, offering to withdraw his candidate in Palakkad in exchange for Congress withdrawing their candidate in Chelakkara and supporting his own candidate.