- By Aditya Jha
- Mon, 23 Jun 2025 04:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Nilambur By-Election Result: The Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath defeated LDF rival M Swaraj in the Kerala's Nilambur assembly seat by-election by more than 10,000 votes. The by-election was held after the resignation of two-term CPI(M)-backed Independent legislator P V Anvar, who also contested as an independent candidate. Shoukath is the son of late Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed, who had represented the seat from 1987 to 2016. The poll was different in many ways, as LDF chose to field its own candidate rather than backing any independent contestant since 2016.
Here are the major takeaways from Congress victory:
Boost for Congress ahead of state assembly election: The victory is likely to provide a boost to Congress ahead of the local bodies poll, scheduled for later this year, and the state assembly election of 2026. The LDF, under the leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan, managed to make a comeback in 2021; however, the Congress would try to form a government in the state after a decade. This is the first time since 2021 that Congress could beat LDF in an assembly by-election where the ruling party had an MLA.
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Congress managed to overcome regional political tussle: The Congress was also under pressure from PV Anvar, ex-MLA and a strong face in the region. He had expressed his desire to join the UDF; however, Congress state leadership backed Shoukath. While Anvar managed to win more than 19,000 votes, he could not manage to have a large impact, as the grand old party had echoed anti-incumbency sentiments. However, Anvar still remains hopeful of joining UDF by claiming that his only intention is to defeat “Pinarayism” (style of functioning).
Setback for CM Vijayan, LDF: The ruling party had already started the campaign for the state assembly election by claiming that the anti-incumbency factor will not work in the state. However, the by-election result is likely to change the momentum, as LDF lost the seat that it had retained since 2016.
Priyanka Gandhi's impact: The Nilambur assembly falls under the Wayanad Lok Sabha region, represented by senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in the lower house of the parliament. Priyanka Gandhi had visited Nilambur twice ahead of the by-election and had slammed the Vijayan government. The duo of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are more likely to campaign in the state after Congress' victory in Nilambur.