Thiruvananthapuram – Aryadan Shoukath was officially sworn in as the new MLA from Nilambur, following a decisive bypoll victory where he defeated LDF’s M. Swaraj by a margin of 11,077 votes. The oath ceremony, held at the R. Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, witnessed the presence of top leaders including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, Speaker A.N. Shamseer, and ministers M.B. Rajesh and K. Rajan. Leaders from across the political spectrum extended floral greetings and warm congratulations to the newly elected legislator.
Shoukath secured 77,737 votes, outpacing Swaraj’s 66,660, while independent candidate P.V. Anvar finished third with 19,760 votes. The result marked a major setback for the ruling LDF, as it lost a sitting seat for the first time in its current term—signaling a shifting political tide ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.
Observers attributed the UDF’s win to rising anti-incumbency sentiments, strategic campaigning on key issues like tribal rights, delayed pensions, and communal tensions, and a visible resurgence of UDF support in traditional LDF strongholds. After taking the oath, Shoukath met IUML state president Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal, emphasizing UDF unity as the cornerstone of their success.
Political analysts believe this victory has energized the UDF’s electoral machinery, giving it significant momentum going into the next statewide polls, while the LDF is expected to undertake serious introspection to reassess its strategy and voter connect.
