Congress Wins Nilambur Kerala Bypoll 2025: Major Setback for Left

Congress-led UDF’s Aryadan Shoukath wins Nilambur Kerala bypoll on June 23, 2025, defeating CPI(M)’s M. Swaraj by over 10,482 votes. Explore the impact of this setback for the Left at Masala Mirror.

Malappuram, Kerala, June 23, 2025 – In a stunning victory, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has won the Nilambur Assembly bypoll, with candidate Aryadan Shoukath defeating the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s M. Swaraj by a margin of 10,482 votes, as per official Election Commission trends. This result, announced on June 23, 2025, marks a significant setback for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, signaling a shift in voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. For the Indian diaspora, this win underscores the Congress’s resurgence, boosting morale among NRIs who follow Kerala’s political landscape closely.

A Decisive Victory for Congress in Nilambur

The Nilambur bypoll, triggered by the passing of Congress MLA P.V. Anvar, saw intense campaigning from both the UDF and LDF. Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath, son of the late Congress stalwart Aryadan Mohammed, maintained a consistent lead from the first round of counting, as reported by ANI on X. By the 16th round, Shoukath secured 62,175 votes compared to Swaraj’s 51,457, with an independent candidate trailing at 15,694 votes. UDF workers celebrated outside the Malappuram counting center, reflecting the jubilation among Congress supporters.

Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph hailed the victory as a “comfortable majority,” stating, “The UDF’s lead in Nilambur is a clear mandate against the LDF’s misrule.” Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with users like @AshishSinghKiJi calling the win a “semi-final” for the 2026 Assembly elections, highlighting its strategic importance. The victory ends a 10-year gap since Congress last held Nilambur, reinforcing its foothold in Malappuram district.

A Major Setback for the Left

The LDF, which has governed Kerala since 2016, faced a significant blow with this defeat. The CPI(M)’s M. Swaraj, a former MLA, trailed early, with initial trends showing Congress leading by 419 votes after the first round and 6,931 votes by the 11th round. The LDF’s loss in Nilambur, a constituency with a diverse electorate, is seen as a rejection of its policies, including the controversial SilverLine rail project and allegations of corruption. Political analysts on X, like @AnshumanSail, noted Congress’s early 1,000+ vote lead as a “great sign” for the UDF ahead of 2026.

The defeat follows other LDF setbacks, such as the 2022 Thrikkakara bypoll, where Congress’s Uma Thomas won by over 25,000 votes, and the 2023 Puthuppally bypoll, where Chandy Oommen triumphed by 36,000 votes.