Aryadan Shoukath set to be sworn in as Nilambur MLA on Friday
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Thiruvananthapuram: Aryadan Shoukath, following a decisive victory in the Nilambur Assembly bypoll, is set to be sworn in as a legislator on Friday at the Kerala Legislative Complex by Speaker A.N. Shamsheer.
His win brings the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) strength in the 140-member Kerala Assembly to 42. Shoukath defeated CPI(M) leader and former MLA M. Swaraj by over 11,000 votes.
This return to the Assembly is especially symbolic for Shoukath, whose late father, veteran Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed, served eight terms representing the same constituency.
Shoukath first entered the electoral fray in 2016 after his father's retirement, but lost to Independent candidate P.V. Anvar, who was backed by the Left. Anvar won again in 2021 but resigned in January following a fallout with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Though he initially pledged support to the Congress, Anvar contested the bypoll as an independent after Shoukath's candidacy was announced, drawing over 19,000 votes and creating ripples across party lines.
In a post-election review, the CPI(M) state secretariat acknowledged Anvar’s exit as a key factor in their defeat.
Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala hailed the victory as a turning point, claiming it signals the "beginning of the end" for the Vijayan-led regime that took office in 2016. He praised the UDF’s collective effort in Nilambur and noted that while attempts were made to bring Anvar into the fold, they ultimately fell through.
Preparations are now underway at Shoukath’s camp for Friday’s oath-taking ceremony and the celebrations to follow.
(inputs from IANS)
