Nilambur village is all set to steal the limelight in the upcoming local body elections thanks to the presence of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) state convener PV Anvar.
Mr. Anvar began negotiations with the United Democratic Front (UDF) by announcing potential candidates under the AITC banner. Although there have been no formal discussions between the UDF and Mr. Anwar, a deal that could help the UDF regain control of the municipality from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) seems likely.
UDF leaders are aware of Mr Anvar’s influence in Nilambur, especially after he secured 19,760 votes in the Nilambur Assembly elections in June.
Mr. Anvar is said to have convinced the AITC national leadership that he could secure 200 local body posts in Kerala and influence control of 20 local bodies. Sources close to him indicate that if the UDF fails to meet his conditions, it will field eight candidates in Nilambur.
The AITC national leadership has told its Kerala unit to keep a low profile, especially since the state leadership led by CG Unni is at odds with Mr. Anvar. The state unit is quietly following Mr. Anwar’s steps.
The UDF suffered a setback in Nilambur in 2020 due to internal conflicts within the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Nilambur stands out as the only village in Malappuram district without an IUML councillor. The party had eight seats here in 2015; but internal power struggles between PV Hamza and Mujeeb Devassery led to his defeat in 2020.
The Congress also faced internal problems, which resulted in the UDF winning only nine of the 33 seats. With the addition of three new constituencies, the UDF is optimistic about regaining control of the municipality.
Aryadan Shoukatha’s landslide victory in the June 2025 assembly elections reunited the UDF, with the Congress and IUML benefiting from the newfound unity.
The LDF, led by municipal chairman Mattummal Saleem, is confident of its chances citing the development work done in Nilambur in the last five years. Mr. Saleem and his team worked hard. The municipality will have a chairwoman this time.
The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) is a strong contender in wards like Charamkulam, CH Colony and Ramankuthu, making both the UDF and LDF wary. The BJP aims to retain its single seat won in 2020.
Nilambur village is shaping up to be a tough fight between UDF and LDF as neither of them can take it for granted.
Published – 06 Nov 2025 21:14 IST
