Cong vs CM; P V Anwar inaugurates road ahead of Rahul Gandhi, political turmoil erupts in Nilambur

MALAPPURAM: A heated political showdown emerged in Nilambur constituency following MLA P V Anwar's inauguration of six roads initially scheduled for Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi. The Congress criticized Anwar's move, labeling it as a political ploy. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came to Anwar's defense asserting the state government's authority in project inaugurations.

Anwar conducted the inauguration at Varakkode and Maramvettichal in Moothedam Panchayat, bypassing the directive that MPs should inaugurate PMGSY roads. Vijayan highlighted the state's substantial contribution (40%) to road construction under the PMGSY scheme.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of endorsing Anwar's actions while the BDO officially informed the MLA about the project's inauguration under the Block Panchayat. Anwar alleged a conspiracy by the Malappuram DDC to politicize the project and divert attention from the Nava Kerala Sadas.

In response, Anilkumar MLA claimed that Rahul Gandhi's office had notified the PMGSY Executive Engineer about the inauguration. Rahul Gandhi eventually inaugurated the road construction as planned at Chunkathara MPM HSS without addressing the controversy.

The tiff intensified with Chief Minister questioning the decision for Rahul Gandhi's inauguration leading to a sharp response from Opposition Leader Satheesan, who criticized the Chief Minister's statement as "cheap."