Turmoil in Congress, Anvar’s Withdrawal, and the Unforgotten Tragedy of Radha

The Nilambur by-election is getting intense, but the Congress party seems to be falling apart. At the UDF convention yesterday, some big leaders like Panakkad Thangal, K Muraleedharan, and K Sudhakaran didn’t show up. Their silence said a lot, they’re clearly unhappy that Aryadan Shoukath was chosen as the candidate without their input.
Meanwhile, Anvar, who had earlier said he wouldn’t run because he didn’t have enough money, made a surprising comeback. He said people were giving him lots of 500 and 1000 rupee notes, asking him to contest. Feeling encouraged (and maybe liking the cash), he boldly said he won’t quit “unless he dies.” That’s just classic Anvar.
But then came a surprise: Anvar’s nomination with the Trinamool Congress got rejected. The election officer said it wasn’t valid because TMC isn’t a recognised national party, and Anvar didn’t have the required 10 proposers on his form.
Even though his TMC nomination was rejected, Anvar said he still plans to run as an Independent candidate.
Ironically, this whole by-election mess started because of Anvar himself. He suddenly quit the LDF, complaining without much reason. He hoped this would clear the way for V S Joy to get the UDF ticket. But the UDF didn’t agree and gave the ticket to Aryadan Shoukath instead, who happens to be Anvar’s biggest rival. And just like that, Anvar’s plan fell apart.

And let’s not forget the BJP, always ready with their bag of tricks. This time, they’ve managed to "import" a candidate from the UDF’s own ally, Kerala Congress (Joseph). After announcing him as their nominee, they quickly handed him a BJP membership card, for formality’s sake. It’s yet another shining example of how BJP’s candidate selection is powered more by cheque books than by ideology.

Radha

Radha: A Name the Congress Wants to Erase

In one of the most horrific crimes in Kerala’s political history, Nilambur witnessed a tragedy that shocked the conscience of the state. Radha, a 49-year -old woman employed as a sweeper at the Nilambur Congress Block Committee office, was found dead in a pond in Chulliyod, Malappuram district. Her body, stuffed into a gunny bag and weighed down with a large stone, was discovered by a local mechanic on February 10.
A day before this tragic memory was brought back into public attention, M Swaraj’s campaign had been flagged off from Kovilakathumuri, Radha’s native place. There, he was greeted by Radha’s siblings, Santha and Bhaskaran, who welcomed him with red garlands, a deeply emotional and symbolic gesture. Their act of solidarity sent a clear message: while the Congress may have tried to forget Radha, her family has not, and they now stand firmly with the Left.
Radha, unmarried and from a modest background, had worked at the Congress office for two and a half years. She is survived by two brothers and two sisters. On February 5, 2016, she was brutally raped and strangled to death inside the party office, allegedly by B K Biju Nair (38), a member of the personal staff of then Power Minister and senior Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed, and his friend Shamsuddin (29).
According to the police, the motive behind the crime was Radha witnessing Biju's affair. When she threatened to expose the matter to Congress leadership and Biju's family, the duo decided to eliminate her. They kept her body hidden inside the office for two days before transporting it in Shamsuddin’s car and dumping it in the pond. Her mobile phone was later found in Angadippuram, 44 kilometers away, in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.
The post-mortem report confirmed that Radha was sexually assaulted before being killed. Her body bore severe injuries, particularly to her genital area, indicating a violent rape. Forensic experts noted that death likely occurred during the assault, although further tests were ordered due to the decomposed state of the body.
Despite the gruesome findings, the local police initially attempted to play down the incident, raising serious questions about institutional bias and attempts to shield politically connected individuals. The preliminary police version avoided acknowledging sexual assault, even as forensic evidence strongly pointed toward it.
The involvement of a personal staff member of Aryadan Muhammed, a senior UDF leader, cast a long shadow over the Congress party. The silence from the top leadership and the state's home department sparked outrage. Then CPI M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan was among the first to demand a full and independent inquiry, hinting at the possible involvement of higher-ups in both the crime and its attempted cover-up.
Today, that political stand has turned into a powerful message on the campaign trail. M Swaraj, the CPI M candidate, began the second day of his election campaign from Vellimattam in Pothukallu Panchayath. Earlier, his rally commenced from Kovilakathumuri, Radha’s native place, where he was warmly received by her siblings Santha and Bhaskaran. In a moving moment, they adorned him with red garlands, symbolising their unwavering support.
The contrast could not be starker. Aryadan Muhammed’s son, Aryadan Shoukath, is now contesting the same election as the UDF candidate. The fact that Radha’s family is openly backing Swaraj speaks louder than any speech or slogan. This is not just a story of a heinous crime, it is about power, silence, and resistance. While the Congress and the then UDF government attempted to undermine and forget Radha’s case, the Left stood with her family in their pursuit of justice. Her name may have been erased from the Congress's memory, but it lives on in the fight for truth and dignity.