Former MLA PV Anvar claims that leakage of votes in UDF strongholds led to Beypore’s defeat

PV Anvar | Photo credit: K Ragesh

Former MLA PV Anvar on Saturday alleged that vote leakage in UDF strongholds contributed to his defeat in the Beypore Assembly constituency in the 2026 Kerala elections.

Mr. Anvar, who left the LDF, contested as an independent candidate supported by the UDF in Beypore. He was defeated by PA Mohamed Riyas, who is the son-in-law of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Recently, there were remarks from some Congress leaders that the UDF would have won all the 13 Assembly constituencies in Kozhikode district if another candidate contested from Beypore.

In a Facebook post, Mr Anvar questioned whether he was “defeated or lost” and said he was forced to speak out following recent revelations and media reports.

Mr. Anvar claimed that his candidature helped highlight issues including “Pinarayism, son-in-law politics and dynastic rule” and also helped the UDF in other constituencies in Kozhikode district.

He claimed that votes were leaking from UDF strongholds including Feroke, Ramanattukara and Cheruvannur-Nallalam, while votes from Left strongholds helped reduce the impact of losses.

Mr. Anvar said the fake candidates got a total of 1,469 votes.

He said that the UDF constituency leadership had asked him to reduce the lead of the Left candidate in Beypore while assuring that he would take care of other areas.

“I kept my word. We managed to reduce the lead in Beypore to around 5,000,” Anvar said, adding that the result could have been different had the UDF secured the expected lead in Feroke and Ramanattukara.

Mr. Anvar said he would release booth details from all 215 booths, including where votes were lost and the circumstances behind it.

Meanwhile, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state general secretary PM A Salam told reporters that Mr. Anwar’s candidature was not the reason for the UDF’s defeat in the Beypore assembly constituency.

“Was Anvar a candidate in all the constituencies where the LDF won? There could have been defeats due to political reasons. We are not saying that the candidates lost because they were bad,” Salam said.

He said allegations of leakage of votes in the UDF would be looked into.

“In any case, we are a front and a party that won 12 out of 13 seats. Why waste time talking about this one seat instead of discussing the 12,” he asked.

Mr Salam said those who claimed that the UDF’s defeat in Beypore was due to Anvar’s candidature should provide an explanation.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 13:46 IST