Kerala Congress divided over P V Anvar’s entry into UDF

The Congress leadership in Kerala appears to be divided over whether the TMC state unit  headed by former Left Front legislator P V Anvar would be brought into the United Democratic Front (UDF).

While  leaders like former KPCC president K Sudhakaran and AICC general secretary  KC Venugopal are favouring  Anvar’s entry into the UDF, leaders such as V D Satheesan are against such a move.

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Speaking to media persons here, Sudhakaran on Wednesday said the UDF would face a setback if votes under Anvar’s influence do not come to the  Congress candidate in the Nilambur by-election.

He said   the Opposition leader alone could  not decide  whether Anvar would be brought into the UDF.

“Anvar’s entry into the  UDF is a matter for the Congress to discuss and decide. That decision should not be made solely by the Leader of the Opposition.  It must be a collective decision of the party leadership. So far, senior leaders have not held any discussions regarding Anvar’s party’s entry into the UDF .A discussion is essential under the new president’s leadership, and I believe it will happen very soon,” Sudhakaran said.

Venugopal said that nobody in the UDF wants to isolate Anvar  and that communication gaps will be resolved through dialogue.

“The state leadership has no opinion that Anwar should be kept out from the UDF . We will examine what went wrong in the communication. Anvar resigned as Nilambur MLA to fight against the corruption of the LDF government. We have  an obligation  to protect him,”   Venugopal said

Anvar, who had been eyeing a formal entry into the UDF, warned that the Trinamul Congress would contest in Nilambur, if the Congress national leadership failed to address his concern

Anvar, who quit the  Left Front  and resigned as Nilambur MLA, was  upset over the Congress’s decision to field Aryadan Shoukath as the UDF candidate. He was favouring  Malappuram DCC president PV Joy’s candidature

Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Malappuram  on Wednesday, Anvar said the  Trinamul Congress  leadership had asked  him to file his nomination in Nilambur  and promised full backing, including support from Mamata Banerjee and senior leaders.

Anvar said that  Congress leaders including K Sudhakaran, K Muraleedharan, Ramesh Chennithala and  Muslim League  leader Kunhalikutty are in touch with him. PV Anwar made it clear that he will not compromise on the issue of being included in the UDF and will approach the Congress high command as a last resort

Anvar further said  that if justice is not provided by the UDF, he will contest alone in Nilambur and will bring Mamata Banerjee for campaigning

Meanwhile,  Opposition leader VD Satheesan clarified that his statements regarding PV Anvar are not personal but reflect the decision of the Congress He added that it is up to PV Anvar to decide what stance he wants to take in the election

The  bypoll in Nilambur, scheduled for June 19, was triggered by Anvar’s resignation after he levelled serious  allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayijan’s secretary P Sasi, ADGP Ajith Kumar and others

Meanwhile, Muslim League state president Syed Sadiqali Shihab Thangal  on Wednesday said  UDF will resolve  the issues  raised by Anwar . Sadiqali Thangal said that the Muslim League is committed to strengthening the UDF and the  Front will resolve the issues raised by Anvar through discussions and consultations.