CPM candidate for Nilambur by-election to be announced on Friday: Chief Minister's stance crucial

MALAPPURAM: The CPM candidate for the Nilambur by-election will be announced after the state secretariat meeting on Friday. The leadership meeting held in Nilambur under the leadership of state secretary MV Govindan has prepared a shortlist. The final name will be decided only after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's stance is known in the secretariat meeting attended by him. There has been an opinion that an independent candidate from the Nilambur constituency should be fielded.

It was assessed that a candidate from the Christian community was needed to spread the impression that the UDF had ignored the hill people by rejecting VS Joy. This allegation raised by PV Anvar after Aryadan Shoukath's candidacy can be exploited. If this is considered, Chungathara Marthoma College former principal Prof Thomas Mathew or district panchayat member Sherona Roy may get a chance.

In addition to Politburo member A Vijayaraghavan, the leadership meeting attended by central committee members and state committee members assessed that there was a possibility of victory in Nilambur. Aryadan Shoukath's candidacy was assessed as favourable due to the high dissatisfaction in the Congress, PV Anvar's stance, and problems in the UDF. To strengthen the election campaign, ten booths were made into a cluster and assigned to state committee members. Secretariat members will be given the responsibility of panchayats.

After the meeting, CPM state secretary MV Govindan told the media that a candidate with popularity will be announced.

Anvar is a closed chapter: TP Ramakrishnan

LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan said that Anvar is a closed chapter. “Anvar has not created any stir in the LDF. Anvar’s stance will be in favour of the UDF. It will not affect us. The UDF does not think that Aryadan Shoukath will have any special status by deciding to be the UDF candidate. The LDF will choose a candidate who can handle the problems in the constituency.”