Nilambur: Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath has won the Nilambur assembly byelection, reclaiming the seat for the United Democratic Front (UDF) from the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).

According to the latest counting updates, Shoukath has secured an unassailable lead of 11,077 votes, garnering 77,737 votes in total.

This marks the third time the Congress has won a bypoll in Nilambur, having previously secured victories in 1970 and 1980. The 2025 byelection was triggered by a rift between the CPM and former MLA P V Anvar, who contested this time as an independent candidate.

Initially, Anvar gave the UDF a scare, especially in Vazhikadavu, where he limited Shoukath’s early lead. However, as counting progressed, Shoukath began building momentum, particularly in traditionally LDF strongholds such as Nilambur and Pothukallu. His strong performance in these areas significantly dented CPM candidate M Swaraj’s chances.

According to Election Commission data from the 19th round of counting, Shoukath polled 77,087 votes. Anvar followed with 19,690, emerging as a disruptive factor for both UDF and LDF. Swaraj’s performance, especially in LDF bastions like Pothukallu and Nilambur municipality, fell below expectations, underlining voter dissatisfaction and a visible anti-incumbency sentiment.

Despite the Congress struggling to make major gains in Vazhikadavu and Moothedam, Shoukath’s lead rose sharply in Edakkara. The LDF’s hope of offsetting the early UDF lead through vote banks in their core regions failed to materialise, as the CPM’s vote share suffered leakage.

A total of 1,74,667 voters (75.87%) turned out on 19 June, braving rain and difficult conditions. Postal ballots also favoured Shoukath, contributing to his steady lead.

The other main contenders included BJP-backed NDA candidate Mohan George and CPI(M)-backed M Swaraj. However, the contest ultimately evolved into a prestige battle between the UDF and the LDF, with issues ranging from local governance to global topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict shaping campaign narratives.

The result is expected to serve as a morale boost for the UDF as Kerala heads into the final years of the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s second term.