CPIM names Swaraj as LDF candidate for Nilambur polls

Ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM) on Friday decided to name former legislator and party state secretariat member M Swaraj, 46, as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the Nilambur by-poll, which is scheduled for 19 June.

- AM Abdussalam

CPIM Kerala secretary MV Govindan declared the candidate after state secretariat meeting in Trivandrum on Friday. Swaraj will take on Congress leader Aryadan Shoukat, who is contesting on opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket. Govindan dismissed the 'Anvar factor', saying that he would not create any impact and that the contest would be between the Congress and the CPIM. The Left front considers the Nilambur by-poll as a political fight and that's why Swaraj was fielded, said Govindan. “In the current political scenario, the left front has an upper hand in the constituency. PV Anvar, who parted ways with the left front, is currently in a pathetic state,” he said.