UDF candidate for Nilambur to be announced tomorrow; high demand for Aryadan Shoukath; suspense candidate from CPM?

MALAPPURAM: With the unexpected announcement of a by-election in Nilambur, the fronts are busy in discussions to determine the candidate. The Congress candidate is likely to be announced tomorrow. KPCC General Secretary Aryadan Shoukath and DCC President V.S. Joy are on the list. Shoukath, who has the support of the League, is the frontrunner. Meanwhile, although the League has no objection to Joy, the League is concerned that if he is denied the seat, the internal dispute in the Congress will intensify and it will be a setback in the local body and assembly elections in Malappuram.

The Congress is also afraid that the CPM will make a move to make Shoukath a candidate if he is denied the seat. The Congress leadership is in the last round of efforts to build a consensus. Shoukath is not interested in the promise of a confirmed seat in the 2026 assembly elections. The stance of KPCC Working President A.P. Anilkumar, who is in charge of Nilambur, will be decisive.

CPM to field an independent candidate?

The CPM is trying to announce its candidate within a week. CPM district secretariat held a meeting in Malappuram under the leadership of Politburo member A Vijayaraghavan and prepared a preliminary list. The opinion that an independent should be fielded is predominant. The announcement will be made after the UDF candidate is announced.

The names of Chungathara Marthoma College former principal Prof. Thomas Mathew, former Indian football team captain U Sharafali, DYFI district president P Shabir, CPM district secretariat member V.M. Shoukath, district panchayat member Sherona Roy, and municipal chairman Mattummal Salim have been mentioned. CPM leaders indicate that people should not be surprised if a prominent suspense candidate comes forward. CPM is looking for a candidate who can also garner votes from outside the party.

Voters

Total Voters ................. 2,32,384

Males ............................ 1,13,486

Females..........................1,18,889

Polling Stations ........... 263

45.3% Hindu Voters

43.9% Muslim Voters

10.8% Christian Voters

8% Scheduled Caste Voters

(As per 2011 Census)