Nilambur by-election in May? Election Commission to start preparations

MALAPPURAM: The Central Election Commission directed the preparations to start for the by-election in the Nilambur constituency, where sitting MLA P V Anvar resigned. The Chief Electoral Officer has been directed to resolve the complaints and publish the final voter list on May 5.

The Election Commission has initiated steps to hold by-elections in six places in the country, including Nilambur. This has evoked doubts of by-elections coming to Nilambur in May. The by-election date is likely to be announced next week. With the Congress giving the election responsibility to AP Anilkumar and the CPM to M Swaraj, preparations are slowly gathering pace in the Nilambur constituency.

It is expected that either VS Joy or Aryadan Shoukath will be the Congress candidate. The CPM is likely to consider TK Hamsa or some local leaders. P V Anvar resigned as an MLA on the grounds that he would face disqualification if he joined another party before the end of the term of the Legislative Assembly.

At the time of his resignation, Anvar thanked the people of Nilambur and left party leaders who supported him. However, he also vowed never to contest from Nilambur again. Anvar is now part of the Trinamool Congress.