Nilambur bypolls: UDF candidate expresses confidence in winning bye-elections, says "state govt totally neglected area"
"There will be a good victory in this election. For the last nine years, the state government has totally neglected the Nilambur area. Many tribals have not been rehabilitated. There is also human-animal conflict here," Shoukath told ANI.
ANI
Jun 19, 2025 10:43 IST
Malappuram (Kerala) [India], June 19 (ANI): United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukhath, contesting Kerala's Nilambur bypoll expressed confidence in a UDF victory for the constituency, saying that the state government has "totally neglected Nilambur area," with tribals not being rehabilitated and increasing human-animal conflict.
"There will be a good victory in this election. For the last nine years, the state government has totally neglected the Nilambur area. Many tribals have not been rehabilitated. There is also human-animal conflict here," Shoukath told ANI.
The polling for the Nilambur assembly constituency and five other seats across the states started earlier today. The Nilambur seat does have political significance as it is seen as a precursor to the mood of the people for the upcoming 2026 Kerala assembly election.
Earlier, Kerala LoP and Congress MLA VD Satheesan also said that a UDF victory will mark the return of the party to the state.
Speaking to ANI, Satheesan said, "This is a political contest, a direct fight between the UDF and the LDF. It is the semi-final leading up to the 2026 Assembly elections, and we are confident of winning by a significant margin. We see this as an opportunity to hold the Pinarayi government accountable, a government that has been in power for the past nine years."
Meanwhile, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M Swaraj cast his vote in the by-election at booth no. 202 of the Government LP School in Muthiri Mankuth.
Swaraj stated afterwards that voting is a citizen's right and urged everyone in the constituency to exercise their franchise.
Apart from Swaraj and Shoukath, the BJP has fielded Adv. Mohan George from the seat.
A total of five assembly constituencies went to the polls at 7 AM today. Apart from Kerala's Nilambur, the Ludhiana West seat in Punjab, the Kaliganj seat in West Bengal, and the Visavadar and Kadi seats in Gujarat were also choosing new representatives. (ANI)
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