Malappuram (Kerala), Jun 23 (PTI) – In a significant setback for Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) headed by Pinarayi Vijayan, the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) is on the cusp of victory in the Nilambur Assembly by-election. As the vote counting process nears completion, Aryadan Shoukath, the UDF candidate, has secured a remarkable lead over M Swaraj of the CPI(M), per the Election Commission's final tally showing a margin of 11,077 votes.
Shoukath is the son of the late Congress heavyweight Aryadan Muhammed, whereas Swaraj serves as a state secretariat member for the CPI(M).
As results coalesce, Swaraj extended congratulations to Shoukath. Swaraj indicated that the LDF will closely analyze the outcome, but dismissed any speculation around anti-incumbency sentiments against the ruling government.
On his part, Shoukath reflected that the outcome was something the populace anticipated - interpreting it as a resounding verdict against the LDF government.
Independent candidate and former two-time legislator P V Anvar made an unexpected impact in the Nilambur constituency as well, garnering noteworthy attention with his performance.
By the 18th round of counting, Anvar, who also doubles as the state convenor for the Trinamool Congress yet contested as an independent, had amassed 18,823 votes. This put him well ahead of his BJP counterpart Mohan George, who secured 8,241 votes.
The careful process of counting commenced punctually at 8 a.m. at Chungathara Mar Thoma Higher Secondary School, following the official unlocking of the strong room that housed the voting machines.
The UDF camp burst into celebratory acknowledgement across Nilambur and wider Kerala as Shoukath's lead transformed into an insurmountable advantage over Swaraj.
V D Satheesan, a jubilant Congress leader and current Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, expressed optimism about the UDF's future prospects. Leading the charge in the by-election campaign, Satheesan predicted a political turnaround in 2026, asserting in a Facebook post that the UDF — a “dynamic United Democratic Front acting as a cohesive unit” — would come back to power with vigor.
The counting sequence initiated with postal ballots before transitioning to scrutinize votes captured through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The seat of Nilambur became vacant upon Anvar's resignation, setting the stage for an intense political contest in the forest-fringe constituency.
This by-election captured widespread interest, coming at a time when the LDF government is mid-way through its current term.
For the Congress-led UDF, victory here could serve as a crucial morale booster in the run-up to next year's Assembly polls.
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