Malappuram, June 4: As Nilambur gears up for a high-stakes by-election on June 19, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is emerging as the early frontrunner in what is shaping up to be one of Kerala’s most closely watched political contests in recent years.
With a high-voltage multi-cornered fight unfolding, the Congress appears to have struck a chord on the ground, backed by a coordinated, well-oiled campaign machine and a calculated consolidation of anti-Left sentiments.
The UDF has fielded Aryadan Shoukath, son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed, in a move that blends political legacy with grassroots credibility.
Over the past fortnight, Shoukath has covered majority of the local bodies in the constituency, holding community meetings, and cultural dialogues that have resonated with voters—especially in traditional Congress strongholds.
The party has arrayed a long list of senior leaders for the election campaign with Congress General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal inaugurating the UDF convection in Nilambur.
The convention witnessed an huge turn out of party functionaries and public occupying the entire venue. The candidate Aryadan Shoukath, who arrived a little late were carried on the shoulders by the party workers to the main stage.
Inaugurating the convention, Venugopal launched a scatching attack on the Kerala Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan accusing him of betraying the people of Malappuram.
“The Chief Minister has insulted Malappuram. Everyone in Kerala knows that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the most qualified person to use the term ‘cheat’. In an interview given to the Hindu newspaper, he said that 150 kg of gold and Rs 123 crore were seized from Malappuram district alone. The Chief Minister also said that this money was meant to be used for terrorist activities and anti-national activities. Why does Pinarayi Vijayan, who has carried out the biggest fraud against this district by bringing Malappuram under suspicion and keeping it under suspicion, come to Malappuram and talk about the fraud?” Venugopal asked.
Sources within the UDF suggest that the campaign is being handled with “surgical precision,” overseen by a team of experienced poll experts such as Adoor Prakash and Shafi Parambil, while IUML cadres are actively engaged in door-to-door mobilisation and booth-level networking. The Congress has ensured active engagement of senior level leaders and youth leadership to sustain the campaign’s momentum and attract the neutral voters.
“People of Nilambur are looking for stability and dignity. They remember the development push under the UDF and the legacy of Aryadan Muhammed. This is not just a by-election—it’s a return to the roots,” Shoukath said at a recent campaign stop in Chungathara.
While the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has roped in CPI(M) leader M. Swaraj and the BJP has announced Mohan George as its candidate, the Congress’s pitch is banking on a dual strategy: consolidating the UDF vote while appealing to disenchanted LDF voters, particularly in the wake of P.V. Anvar’s dramatic fallout with the Left. Anvar, now contesting under the Trinamool Congress banner, has added a layer of complexity to the race, but UDF leaders argue that his presence will further fragment the LDF’s base rather than damage their own.
The Congress’s push is also being helped by the increasing coordination between UDF allies, who have kept visible factional tensions in check, presenting a united front. The IUML has, despite some initial dissatisfaction over Anvar’s outreach to the UDF, now come in full force, with state-level leaders holding regular reviews and supervising campaign micro-management.
Party insiders believe that with a few more days of sustained outreach, the Congress could convert its early momentum into a decisive lead by polling day.
In many localities, residents cite “fatigue” with the LDF’s governance and a sense of “betrayal” over Anvar’s exit and subsequent alliance with the TMC. The BJP, while putting up a spirited campaign, still struggles to crack through in a constituency where minority consolidation has traditionally favoured UDF.
As the campaign enters its key phase, the Congress seems to have found its stride—balancing legacy with local connect, narrative control with grassroots mobilisation. If current trends hold, Nilambur may well mark a crucial moral victory for the UDF ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.