P.V. Anvar (file)
| Photo Credit: K K Mustafah
A day after Independent legislator P.V. Anvar’s dramatic arrest and subsequent release on bail, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in Kerala on Tuesday (January 7, 2025) appeared to dial down its reservations about giving political accommodation to the legislator’s fledgeling Democratic Movement of Kerala (DMK).
The UDF also found common ground with Mr. Anvar, the Nilambur MLA, over the latter’s opposition to the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s alleged failure to protect the lives and property of citizens, primarily settler farmers abutting forest lands, from wildlife raids and attacks.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan signalled that the UDF would consider Mr. Anvar’s willingness to ally himself with the alliance.
Mr. Satheesan said Mr. Anvar, a former LDF ally and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s zealous defender, had long acted as “the government’s catspaw” to attack Opposition figures.
“As poetic justice would have it, Mr. Anvar has transfigured as Mr. Vijayan’s bugbear, exposing the rot at the administration’s apex as a former insider and confidant,” he said.
Mr. Satheesan said that, with hindsight, he viewed Mr. Anvar’s criticisms as part of the larger political discourse. “In the cut and thrust of politics, personal likes or dislikes have zero relevance”, he added.
Other Congress leaders also appeared to be warming up to Mr. Anvar’s inclination to partner with the UDF against the government.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) member Rijil Makkutty said Mr. Anvar should embrace his Congress roots.
Congress leaders V.T. Balaram and Mathew Kuzhalnadan, MLA, said Mr. Anvar added a rider to Mr. Makkutty’s invitation. Both leaders said Mr. Anvar should publicly clarify the latter’s political turnaround.
Mr. Kuzhalnadan said Mr. Anvar should “rectify the anti-UDF stance” the latter had adopted in the Chelakkara Assembly bypoll.
UDF convener M.M. Hassan noted that Mr. Anvar had not approached the Opposition alliance formally.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anvar called on Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State president Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at the latter’s family house in Malappuram.
Mr. Thangal appeared non-committal about Mr. Anvar’s aspiration to ally with the UDF. He told reporters in Malappuram that politics was not on the table when he met Mr. Anvar.
However, Mr. Thangal added that the alliance was keen to expand its base. “The UDF will do whatever is necessary to strengthen its position ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls,” he said.
He said their discussion centred on the government’s decision to introduce the contentious Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Assembly.
He said the Bill “lacked a human dimension” and was patently anti-people. The proposed law has triggered anxiety and insecurity among settler farmers, especially in Wayanad and Idukki districts, he added.
Mr. Thangal said the government had failed to protect the lives and property of people from wildlife attacks. “Wildlife raids on farmlands have brought further economic distress to financially hard-pressed farmers, he said, adding that Mr. Anvar had evinced interest in associating with the UDF’s impending campaign, Malayora Jatha, for settler-farmer rights.
After the seemingly politically significant meeting, Mr. Anvar told reporters he would call on Congress and more UDF leaders, including Mr. Satheesan, to build bridges with the Opposition.
He swore not to rest or leave any stone unturned “until the people voted the Pinarayi Vijayan government out of power.”
Mr. Anvar also said he would meet Church leaders and those at the apex of social organisations of varied hues to seek support for his endeavour.
Published – January 07, 2025 01:58 pm IST
