Will Aryadan Shoukath win with a margin of 10,000 votes? Nilambur prepares for Kottikalasham

MALAPPURAM: Nilambur by-election is heading for the grand finale of campaigning on Tuesday. The UDF and LDF, after assessing the competition as tough, are concerned about the votes independent candidate P V Anvar would amass.

Despite acknowledging the tough fight, UDF estimates Aryadan Shoukath to win the seat with a majority between 10,000 and 15,000. There is a sense of revival among LDF cadres after CM Pinarayi directly engaged in the campaigning to lift spirits. The anti-incumbency feeling was not palpable across the campaigning while an intellectual Swaraj being fielded provides good reason to ponder about a coup.

CPM is trying to milk most from UDF's unholy nexus with the Welfare Party and Jamaat-e-Islami. There are seven panchayats and one municipality in the constituency. The UDF estimates that it will be able to gain control of the five panchayats under its control. The CPM is in the final stages of its strategy to increase its vote share in the UDF panchayats, along with preventing vote leakage in the two panchayats under LDF control and in the Nilambur municipality.TMC’s P V Anvar believes that he would easily get 10 per cent of the vote in the polls.

The Muslim league warned cadres not to be surprised even if Anvar garners more than 10,000 votes. There is also criticism within UDF over their inability to bring anti-incumbency as the prior topic of discussion in Nilambur and falling for the Jamaat-e-Islami trap set by CPM.