PALAKKAD: CPI leader who lost a bet with UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath's victory in the Nilambur by-election has joined the Muslim League. Malappuram Tuvvur Town Branch Assistant Secretary Gafur left the CPI to keep his word. Arakundil Gafur, a member of the Land Conservation Committee, had a bet with League leader and Real Estate STU District Committee President Koppath Manu. Both are friends and natives of Tuvvur and are voters in the nearby Wandoor constituency.

The two made the bet on the 14th, when the Nilambur by-election campaign was at its peak. Amid political disputes, Manu said that if Shoukath loses, he will stop political work. With this, Gafur said that LDF candidate M Swaraj will win and if not, he will join the League. They also prepared the deal in writing.

After the results came out, Gafur went to Manu's house this morning and informed him that he would keep his word. He announced that he would work in the Muslim League. Gafur announced that he had joined the Muslim League in the presence of Kottangodan Hussain, a friend of both of them. Manu said that Gafur would be given membership after consulting with the party leaders.