Ex-MLA PV Anvar Returns to Kerala Politics as UDF Candidate in Beypore
Image Source: Internet
The United Democratic Front (UDF) has officially announced former Nilambur MLA PV Anvar as its candidate for the upcoming Kerala assembly elections in Beypore. Anvar, who parted ways with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in 2024, will likely face a tough challenge from sitting CPI(M) MLA and state minister PA Mohammed Riyas. Riyas, the son-in-law of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been the dominant force in Beypore, a coastal constituency in Kozhikode district, for the past eight terms. The UDF is hopeful that Anvar's candidature will break the CPI(M) stronghold in the area. Anvar's entry into the UDF comes after he was added as an associate member last year, following a public spat with Vijayan. He had previously accused senior police officers, including ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, and Vijayan's secretary P Sasi of corruption. The UDF is banking on Anvar's popularity to win over voters in Beypore, a constituency that has remained with CPI(M) since 1980. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Riyas won by a significant margin of 28,747 votes. The outcome of this election will be closely watched as it may indicate a shift in the balance of power in Kerala politics.
