With the Nilambur bye-polls just around the corner, the death of a 15-year-old from an illegal animal trap in the district has sparked controversy with Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday accusing the Kerala government of being negligent.
The byelections were necessitated after Anvar submitted his resignation on January 13 to Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer, days after holding talks with TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday announced Mohan George as its candidate for the byelection in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala. The election will be held on June 19, and the counting is scheduled for June 23.
"People who wish that the Pinarayi government wouldn't come into power again will vote for Aryadan Shoukath. Aryadan Shoukath will win in the by-election...Nilambur by-election will be a mandate against Pinarayi Government..." Antony told the media.
Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader VD Satheesan on Friday said that the upcoming Nilambur by-election would be treated as an opportunity to hold the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government accountable. He also confirmed that the first phase of the campaign work has been completed.
"The high command will decide the candidate. The candidate is merely a technicality. The atmosphere in Malappuram is such that anyone who becomes the candidate will win," Joy said.
"We welcome the declaration of the Nilambur byelection, though it is late. The UDF (United Democratic Front) and the Congress party are well prepared for the election... This election will be a verdict against the anti-people policies and programmes of the LDF (Left Democratic Front), their
After submitting his resignation as MLA from Nilambur, TMC leader PV Anvar said he would not contest the Nilambur by-election but would instead give full support to the Congress candidate to end the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K Sudhakaran MP has condemned party MLA PV Anvar's arrest saying, that a "high-level political conspiracy" is behind his arrest.