Nilambur by-election; 10 candidates in fray, PV Anvar to contest under 'scissors' symbol

MALAPPURAM: The contest picture in Nilambur has become clear as the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers has passed. Ten contestants are contesting in the Nilambur by-election. Independent candidate PV Anvar is contesting under the scissors symbol.

There were 14 candidates in the fray. Four of them withdrew their nominations today. Chungathara native Anvar Sadat, who was considered PV Anvar's dummy candidate, also withdrew his nomination. SDPI's dummy candidate also withdrew. Anvar, who had earlier announced that he would campaign only after Bakrid, started his campaign at Nilambur's Kalichanda today. It is reported that the boards with the scissors symbol will be installed soon. The voting will be held on June 19. The votes will be counted on the 23rd. M Swaraj is the LDF candidate, Aryadan Shoukat for the UDF, and Adv Mohan George for the BJP.

Meanwhile, PV Anvar's new conditions for the UDF today, the last day to withdraw nominations, were also discussed. Anvar's condition was that if the UDF comes to power next time, he should be made a minister and given the Home and Forest Departments, or VD Satheesan should be removed from the UDF leadership position. PV Anvar described VD Satheesan as 'Mukkal Pinarayi' while speaking to the media.