'Satheesan's attitude made me contest by-polls'; P V Anvar opens up

MALAPPURAM: P V Anvar, the former MLA of Nilambur, blamed opposition leader V D Satheesan’s attitude to be behind his decision to contest the by-polls. Anvar said he had to backtrack from his earlier decision to support UDF, owing to Satheesan’s haughty attitude. In a presser on Saturday morning, Anvar lashed out at the opposition for remaining mute on the hostile governance of the LDF front in Kerala.

PV ANVAR:

“It is just me who voraciously questions the hostile governance of the current LDF front. Nobody else in the opposition cares about the issue. Where is the Leader of the Opposition? Why is he not interfering in any of this? I had personally spoken to him to intervene in the matter of ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, but to no avail.

I decided to support UDF in bypolls, but was forced to enter into the fray because of Satheesan. Why is the chief minister giving all reins of control to ADGP MR Ajith Kumar? What business do they have for the CM to be such subservient to a police officer?”

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Dr. Ratan U. Kelkar announced that the counting of votes for the Nilambur by-election held on Thursday will begin at 7:30 am on Monday. The strong room where the voting machines are kept sealed will be opened in the presence of the candidates' agents in the morning. 19 rounds of counting are being held at 14 tables.