Kerala Opposition Leader says UDF has ‘neither closed nor opened the door’ on P.V. Anvar

Kerala's Leader of the Opposition discusses UDF's stance on P.V. Anvar's resignation and political accusations.

Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition has “neither closed nor opened the door” on P.V. Anvar who submitted his resignation as Nilambur MLA to Speaker A.N. Shamseer on Monday (January 13, 2025). 

Speaking to reporters in Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district, Mr. Satheesan said the UDF would decide to accommodate Mr. Anvar “at an appropriate time.” 

He dismissed Mr. Anvar’s “request-demand” that the UDF field Malappuram district president V.S. Joy in the “upcoming Assembly byelection in the Nilambur constituency.”

Mr. Satheesan said no person could dictate terms to the Congress. “Malappuram is Congress’ seat. The party will decide,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Anvar’s apology for accusing the former of corruption in the Kerala Assembly had underlined the role of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the “criminal clique which controlled the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in the heinous and unfounded vilification campaign” against him.

Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Anvar had validated the UDF’s accusation that the latter had raised the allegation in the Assembly at the instance of Mr. Vijayan’s political secretary P. Sasi. “Mr. Sasi dare not pull off such a political subterfuge without Mr. Vijayan’s concurrence”, he added.

Mr. Satheesan said he had requested the Speaker to retain Mr. Anvar’s charge in Assembly records so that “future generations will know how Mr. Vijayan and his clique would stoop to brazen lying to vilify political opponents”.