P V Anwar, the Independent MLA from Kerala's Nilambur, who quit the ruling CPI (M)-led LDF front recently, is on a meeting spree with Opposition Congress-led UDF leadership. He visited Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League supremo Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and national general secretary P.K. Kunjalikutty in person on Tuesday. Anwar also had a phone conversation with opposition leader and Congress MLA V D Sateeshan.
The MLA is meeting more UDF leaders on Wednesday as he has made his intention to join the UDF fold clear. The UDF leadership, however, is avoiding making any hasty decision.
Reason: The defamatory comments made earlier by Anwar about the state and central leadership of Congress, including against Rahul Gandhi and opposition leader V.D. Satheesan.
Anwar was expelled from the LDF after he made public accusations against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his administration. He alleged that the Chief Minister was protecting corrupt officials, including his political secretary and a senior police officer, who was involved in gold smuggling. He claimed that this favouritism undermined the integrity of the party and the government, adding that Vijayan's political standing had significantly declined as a result.
Before these developments, Anwar was a self-proclaimed cyber lieutenant for Pinarayi Vijayan, aggressively attacking Vijayan’s political opponents with harsh words. It was during this time that he made disparaging comments against Congress leaders.
Satheesan’s measured response—that "the right decision will be taken at the right time" — on Anwar’s case indicates that the opposition leader remains unconvinced about accepting Anwar into the UDF.
Anwar is a charismatic leader, and a section within the UDF believes they could leverage his influence. However, there is another section, especially the young leaders, who think that Anwar may not function as a team player and could harm the UDF in the long run. The Muslim League will play a crucial role in deciding whether Anwar should be accommodated in the UDF, as his area of influence overlaps with theirs. If the Muslim League supports his entry, Congress is likely to follow suit.
After being expelled from the LDF, it was clear that Anwar’s initial efforts were not focused on joining the UDF. Instead, he attempted to align himself with parties of national stature. He also sought to stay relevant in the political scene by making some noise during the assembly by-polls in the Palakkad and Chelakkara constituencies. However, he has since realised that his charisma alone was not enough to maintain his momentum.
On January 5, Anwar was arrested by Kerala Police on charges of vandalising the District Forest Office (DFO) in Nilambur. The incident occurred during a protest against the death of a tribal man named Mani, who was killed by an elephant. This issue brought Anwar back into the spotlight, and he is now leveraging the scenario and the sympathy he gained to facilitate his entry into the UDF.
Even if Anwar manages to join the UDF, he will have to make significant adjustments. This may include giving up his cherished Nilambur seat in the upcoming assembly polls and contesting from a sitting CPM seat instead.
