Aryadan Shoukath clinched the Nilambur Assembly seat in Kerala, defeating CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by a commanding margin of 11,077 votes.
The by-election result marks a significant boost for the Congress in the state’s political landscape.
The contest, necessitated by the resignation of former MLA and independent candidate PV Anvar, saw Shoukath secure an early lead right from the first round of counting. By the fifth round, the Congress candidate widened his advantage to over 5,000 votes, eventually sealing the win decisively. Anvar, despite being a political heavyweight and previously backed by the Left Democratic Front, finished third with 19,946 votes.
Shoukath, son of the late Aryadan Muhammed—a veteran Congress minister and former MLA—leveraged both legacy and local goodwill. His past roles as Nilambur municipality chairman and grassroots involvement bolstered his campaign’s credibility.
The bypoll outcome reflects shifting political sentiments in Nilambur, once a CPI(M) stronghold. It also signals potential realignments in Kerala’s political calculus ahead of the next assembly elections.
