Swaraj’s entry changes the colour of contest; battle of Nilambur turns into Pinarayi vs Satheesan fight
Malappuram: The arrival of CPM state secretariat member M Swaraj as the LDF candidate in Nilambur has transformed the by-election—already a point of high interest among Kerala’s politically engaged public—into a full-fledged battle of prestige for both the LDF and UDF, particularly for the leaders at the helm - Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan.
Satheesan has been camping in Nilambur and coordinating the UDF’s campaign efforts since the election was announced. Pinarayi Vijayan, too, has been energetically campaigning, holding political conventions not only in Nilambur but also across the seven panchayats within the constituency.
The election has already seen numerous twists and turns, owing largely to the role played by Trinamool leader P V Anvar, whose resignation triggered the by-election. Anvar had stepped down to reinforce his stance as a crusader against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. His public statements, outbursts, and shifting political stance have attracted considerable media attention and are expected to influence the election outcome.
Initially positioning the contest as a fight against Pinarayi and 'Pinarayism', Anvar later turned against V D Satheesan, adding to the political intrigue. By demanding that the UDF candidate represent the high-range farming community, he tried to project himself as a representative of the Christian community in the region.
This sentiment gave rise to speculation that the CPM might field a candidate from that community. However, ending all such assumptions, the CPM chose to field the most capable leader available for Nilambur. It was Pinarayi Vijayan who proposed Swaraj from a panel of five names presented to the party secretariat.
Anvar had earlier declared that he would contest if denied entry into the UDF, but he appeared to soften his stance on Friday. It was widely believed that any move Anvar made against the UDF would ultimately benefit Pinarayi Vijayan. V D Satheesan took a firm position within the UDF against yielding to Anvar’s pressure tactics.
In the meantime, some Youth Congress and Muslim League leaders took to social media to mock the CPM, claiming it was struggling to find a suitable candidate and was attempting to poach UDF leaders. The announcement of Swaraj as the candidate appears to have put such ridicule to rest.
On Saturday, Anvar once again came out expressing his disappointment over the stand taken by UDF leaders, causing concern among UDF supporters. Having represented Nilambur in the Assembly for two consecutive terms, Anvar enjoys a considerable following in the constituency and is likely to influence a segment of UDF voters.
Backroom negotiations are ongoing, and the UDF still hopes to reconcile with the disenchanted leader, who feels humiliated by certain UDF leaders, particularly Opposition Leader V D Satheesan.
On the other hand, the LDF camp has grown more energised and optimistic following Swaraj’s nomination. He received a rousing reception in Nilambur on Saturday morning, which turned into a literal show of strength for the LDF and a clear indication of the changed political atmosphere.