PV Anvar MLA joins Trinamool Congress

KOLKATA: Nilambur MLA PV Anvar has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Anvar chose to align with TMC after his efforts to join the UDF failed to materialize. At a ceremony in Kolkata, TMC leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee formally inducted Anvar into the party. This unexpected move makes him a part of the Trinamool Congress, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

After Anvar was arrested by the police on Sunday in connection with the Nilambur DFO office attack case, Congress leaders such as Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president K Sudhakaran came out criticizing the arrest. This had led to a speculation that Anvar might join the Congress. However, this plan did not progress further.

The opposition from a prominent Congress leader in Malappuram and a faction within the Muslim League reportedly blocked Anvar’s entry into Congress. It is said that a senior Congress leader had threatened to leave the party if Anvar was inducted into the party.

Anvar had visited Panakkad to meet Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and later PK Kunhalikutty. The Muslim League had stated that they would support any decision taken by the Congress regarding Anvar's collaboration with the UDF. However, when Anvar went to Thiruvananthapuram recently to meet Congress leaders, none of them gave him time. Congress later clarified that their criticism was directed at the manner of Anvar’s arrest, not in support of the MLA himself.