‘If Riyas wins, I will tonsure my head and walk around Kozhikode market wearing earrings, will he accept the challenge’

KOZHIKODE: UDF candidate P V Anvar said that he is confident of winning in the Beypore constituency. Anvar said that if Mohammed Riyas wins, he will tonsure his head, wear earrings, and walk from Kidson Corner through SM Street to the railway station. He also asked whether Riyas would accept a similar challenge if the result goes the other way round. His remarks were soon after exit poll predictions suggested that Anvar would not be able to make a significant impact in the constituency and that Beypore would remain a strong LDF bastion, even if the vote share declines. However, Anvar claimed he would win by 25,000 votes.

‘Riyas will not get more than 65,000 votes. I only spoke about ‘marumonisam’ (nepotism). Riyas accused UDF leaders of collecting money. Who is actually engaging in character assassination? What is weakening the Left is the infallibility within Mohammed Riyas’s party. He has hijacked the party, and the party secretary has supported it. This election is between Pinarayi and the people. BJP votes will decline in Beypore. The BJP–CPM deal has collapsed here. BJP leadership in Kerala has helped Pinarayi. This is not minority consolidation, but consolidation against Pinarayi. Secular believers voted for the UDF, and there are some votes of the Left,’ said Anvar.

‘In this election, there are at least 10,000 anti-Pinarayi votes in every constituency. Sabarimala turned a major issue. This election will shut down the Kerala Congress (Mani) office. Vellappally is someone who has hurt minorities, yet Pinarayi Vijayan honored him. The exit poll results are similar to what I predicted,’ he added.

Anvar had earlier said that he would win in Beypore. He had started campaigning in the constituency even before the UDF officially announced candidates.