Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph has said that All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Kerala State convener P.V. Anvar’s decision to reject Aryadan Shoukath as the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in the Nilambur byelection was “unacceptable.”

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Mr. Joseph asked Mr. Anvar to align with the UDF policies. He said the selection of Mr. Shoukath as the candidate in Nilambur was the unanimous decision of the Congress.

“We could not convene a formal meeting of the State Congress election committee. So the Congress leadership held a discussion and reached a consensus on the candidate, which was subsequently announced by the Congress’s national leadership,” he said.

Mr. Joseph asked how a person who wanted to become part of the UDF could make “careless statements” like Mr. Anvar did. “Mr. Anvar should give a clear answer to this.”

He said Mr. Anvar had raised objections against the LDF government’s policies when he left the LDF and resigned as MLA.

“Who can challenge those policies in the people’s court and give a setback to the LDF government? It’s very clear in Kerala politics. The UDF is a coalition with strong people’s support that can take strong action against the LDF both inside and outside the Assembly. We have seen this in Puthuppally, Thrikkakara, Palakkad and Wayanad byelections. And now we will see it again in Nilambur,” he said.

Published – May 28, 2025 03:49 pm IST