As Nilambur is witnessing a high-stakes political battle the UDF is leaning heavily on past remarks made by CPI(M) leaders, while the LDF is countering with a recent comment by AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal.
Since the UDF convention on Monday, the opposition front has intensified its campaign by spotlighting controversial past statements by LDF leaders—particularly Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan—regarding Malappuram. The UDF alleged that Vijayan unfairly singled out Malappuram in discussions on issues like gold smuggling and extremism, while ignoring similar concerns in other districts. At the convention, Venugopal invoked these remarks to portray the LDF as biased against Malappuram, aiming to consolidate minority support and expand the UDF’s voter base beyond its traditional strongholds.
Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan also reiterated these allegations, stating, “Pinarayi Vijayan made serious accusations against Malappuram. His PR team circulated notes to all major media houses in Delhi, alleging that gold smuggling and extremism were rampant in the district.” He further accused the chief minister of echoing a “Sangh Parivar agenda” by portraying Malappuram in a negative light. “The chief minister gave an interview that essentially reinforced Sangh Parivar’s narrative on extremism. In doing so, he and the Sangh Parivar are walking the same path,” Satheesan claimed.
Satheesan also targeted CPI(M) Polit Bureau member A. Vijayaraghavan, who is leading the LDF’s campaign in Nilambur. “Does Vijayaraghavan still stand by his earlier claim that Priyanka Gandhi’s victory was due to votes from communal elements? Are the nearly 95,000 people who voted for her in Nilambur extremists? This question needs to be answered,” he said.
He went on to accuse Vijayaraghavan of making disparaging remarks about Malappuram, Indian Union Muslim League leaders, and Sadiq Ali Thangal. Satheesan also listed several controversial comments from CPI(M) leaders to support the claim that the LDF harbours an anti-Malappuram—and by extension, anti-Muslim—bias in its political discourse.
The UDF’s move should also be seen in light of the fact that former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar remains in the electoral fray. Anvar, contesting as an independent candidate, has also accused Chief Minister Vijayan of disparaging Malappuram. He has alleged that the CM lied about the district’s involvement in smuggling activities. It is clear that the UDF is factoring in Anvar’s campaign, as Anvar’s camp is portraying his candidacy as a fight against “Pinarayism” and positions Anvar as a defender of Malappuram’s honour.
Meanwhile, the LDF also has turned its attention to comments made by K.C. Venugopal at the UDF convention, where he claimed the state government was using welfare pensions as election-time bribes. Although Venugopal later clarified that his remarks were intended to highlight delays and the partial clearing of arrears close to the elections, the LDF leadership is in no mood to let it go.
LDF candidate M. Swaraj criticised the comment during a campaign rally in Manimooly, Nilambur. “Isthe Congress leader saying that all 60 lakh people receiving welfare pensions are accepting bribes?” he asked, calling the remark "insensitive and cruel."
The LDF has demanded that the AICC general secretary withdraw his statement and apologise to the people of Kerala. Notably, the increase in welfare pensions to ₹1,600 is being touted as a major achievement of the Vijayan government in Swaraj’s campaign.