With just days to go for the Nilambur Assembly bypoll, the political temperature in Kerala is rising. On Friday night, Congress MP Shafi Parambil and Palakkad legislator Rahul Mankootathil stirred controversy by alleging that they were targeted during a vehicle check by poll officials near Colony Plot, Nilambur. The two young leaders said the act was politically motivated, equating the incident to the midnight hotel room raids that occurred during the Palakkad byelection in November 2024.

Congress Cries Foul

According to the Congress leaders, they were stopped by election officials, who allegedly shone torches into their vehicles, asked them to alight, and searched their suitcases, which they say amounted to public humiliation. The leaders implied the action was part of an intentional campaign to intimidate the party and influence voter sentiment.

EC Denies Allegations, Calls It Routine

However, Election Commission officials have outrightly denied the claims, stating that vehicle checks are routine and mandatory under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during elections. In a press release, Malappuram District Collector and Election Officer V.R. Vinod clarified that ten static surveillance teams, nine flying squads, three anti-defamation squads, and two video surveillance teams were functioning in Nilambur as part of poll monitoring.

He stressed that the operations were standard operating procedures laid down by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and that all checks were video-recorded for transparency and accountability.

Officials pointed out that it was not just Congress leaders who were checked. Vehicles of other political leaders, including IUML MP Abdul Wahab and CPI(M) MPs K. Radhakrishnan and P.K. Biju, were also stopped and searched by surveillance teams at multiple entry points to Nilambur.

CPI(M) Dismisses Accusations as Drama

CPI(M) leaders were quick to respond, accusing the Congress of sensationalising a routine check for political mileage. A. Vijayaraghavan and PWD Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said the Congress was resorting to drama instead of engaging in issue-based political campaigning.

LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan added, “It is unbecoming of elected representatives to question the authority of the Election Commission. They should cooperate with electoral procedures.”

Star Campaigners Hit the Ground

The political battleground in Nilambur is intensifying, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launching a three-day campaign in the constituency starting Saturday (June 14). On the other hand, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who will be in Wayanad the same day, is slated to campaign in Nilambur on Sunday (June 15). Nilambur falls under the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, currently held by Rahul Gandhi.

Candidates in Fray

The Nilambur bypoll, scheduled for 19 June 2025, was necessitated by the resignation of P.V. Anvar, who had won the seat in 2021 as an Independent with LDF support. He is again contesting, this time without LDF’s backing.

The CPI(M) has fielded M. Swaraj, a prominent youth leader and former MLA. The Congress has nominated Aryadan Shoukath, son of late Aryadan Muhammed, a veteran Nilambur Congress leader. Representing the BJP is Mohan George, aiming to boost the saffron party’s visibility in the Muslim-majority region.

High-Stakes Electoral Battle

Nilambur is witnessing a multi-cornered contest, but the main battle remains between the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). Both sides are marshalling their resources and deploying top-tier campaigners.

The counting of votes will take place on 23 June 2025, and the outcome is expected to have a significant bearing on the political morale of both the LDF and the UDF, especially with the 2026 Assembly elections slowly approaching on the horizon.

As the political rhetoric sharpens and star campaigners descend on the constituency, Nilambur has become the focal point of Kerala politics this month. The Election Commission, meanwhile, continues to urge political parties and the public to maintain calm, cooperate with officials, and ensure a free and fair election.

Disclaimer

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