Nilambur: There was no confusion regarding the choice of candidate at Nilambur, and the state leadership of Congress has unanimously selected Aryadan Shoukath to wrest back the seat, said Opposition leader VD Satheesan. “Congress leadership in the state unanimously submitted the name of Shoukath to the high command, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accepted it. Congress will kickstart the campaign programmes from Tuesday itself. As far as Congress is concerned, preparations have already been completed at Nilambur,” said Satheesan.

He said that the party has committees in all 263 booths in Nilambur. Over eight thousand new voters have been added to the electoral roll. Thousands of workers are already active in the constituency for the by-election. With everyone united, the UDF will win the by-election by a large majority, he said.

“The delay in announcing the name of the candidate was caused because the date of the by-election was announced on a Sunday. That’s why we could not announce the name of our candidate within 24 hours as promised. Since it was a Sunday, the AICC was not functioning. On Monday afternoon, the Congress president arrived at the party headquarters. Subsequently, the name of the candidate was submitted. The delay in the Congress president reaching Delhi caused the 24-hour deadline to be missed.”

Responding to media questions, Satheesan explained that the candidate could not be announced within 24 hours as promised because the by-election was announced on a Sunday. Since it was a Sunday, the AICC was not functioning. On Monday afternoon, the Congress president arrived at the party headquarters. Subsequently, the name of the candidate was submitted. The delay in the Congress president reaching Delhi caused the 24-hour deadline to be missed,” he said. And he quipped, “Who else announces a candidate faster than this?”

“It had already been decided that P.V. Anvar would become part of the UDF. A formal announcement will be made soon after related discussions are concluded,” he said, dismissing doubts regarding Anvar’s disenchantment over the selection of the candidate. Satheesan also said that it is expected Anvar will be present on the UDF election platforms in Nilambur.

When asked whether Anvar would contest, Satheesan replied that such questions are purely hypothetical.