Shoukath wins Nilambur seat, trounces Left in by-elections

Aryadan Shoukath, who contested on opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket in the June 19 by-election, wrested the Nilambur seat from ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) by defeating M Swaraj, state secretariat member of ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM), by a margin of 11,077 votes.

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In a surprise development, PV Anwar, who left the LDF after raising serious allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, garnered 19,760 votes and accounting for 11.23 per cent as an independent candidate. Shoukath fetched around 77,737 votes (44.17 per cent), while Swaraj secured 66,660 votes (37.88 per cent).

Mohan George, who entered the fray late as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate secured 8,562 votes (4.9 per cent).

Shoukath maintained lead throughout the counting except in the ninth round where Swaraj got an edge of around 200 votes.

The by-election was necessitated after Anwar, who had won as an LDF-backed independent, resigned following differences with LDF leadership.

Shoukath, son of veteran Congress leader (late) Aryadan Mohammed, who represented the constituency for more than three decades has now brought the long-time UDF stronghold back into the party's fold.