UDF Ruled Panchayat in Nilambur Appoints Sangh Affiliated Advocate as Standing Counsel

Nilambur: The growing closeness between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is becoming more visible in Nilambur, with the appointment of R Krishnaraj as the standing counsel for the UDF -led Vazhikkadavu Panchayath in the Kerala High Court. Krishnaraj is a lawyer known for his strong ties with the Sangh Parivar and is a leading figure in the Saketham Hindu Litigants Trust, an organisation that brings together lawyers aligned with Sangh ideology across Kerala. The trust has often been criticised for pushing a communal agenda while posing as a legal advocacy group.
Krishnaraj is infamous for interpreting even secular legal issues through a communal lens. Critics have described him as a “toxic propagandist in lawyer’s robes.” Recently, he appeared in the Supreme Court opposing the Central Waqf Council’s involvement in cases challenging changes to the Wakf Act, a move seen by many as an attack on minority rights and institutions.
That such a lawyer has been chosen as legal representative by a panchayat in a minority-dominated constituency like Nilambur has triggered serious criticism. Many believe this is not an isolated event but part of a wider trend where the UDF appears to be getting increasingly comfortable with right-wing elements.
The Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), two major UDF partners, are facing growing public scrutiny. Congress leaders have also been accused of staying silent on BJP-backed narratives gaining ground in the region.
In response to the controversy, a representative of the IUML tried to shift the blame to the Panchayat Block Development Officer (BDO), claiming it was his decision supported by a few elected members. However, this claim has been proven false. The BDO has no authority in selecting a standing counsel. The responsibility lies entirely with the panchayat president and the majority of elected members. This was confirmed by the official minutes of the panchayat meeting, which have now surfaced. The document clearly states that the committee agreed to pay Krishnaraj fifteen thousand rupees per case and that he was officially appointed as standing counsel by the panchayat committee itself.
Nilambur has a proud history of secular resistance. It was here that CPI M leader T K Hamsa raised the red flag after the Kunhali era, winning the Assembly seat in 1982. Hamsa later defeated the Congress and BJP alliance in Beypore in 1991. The CPI M is confident that Nilambur will once again reject what it describes as a dangerous mix of communal politics and liberal posturing.
Adding to the controversy are past incidents involving former UDF leaders from Nilambur, including Aryadan Shoukath and former MP Gangadharan, who are believed to have quietly accepted support from RSS circles during earlier election campaigns. The RSS openly supported the UDF -led District Anti-Left Yatra in Malappuram, a move that raised many eyebrows. Aryadan’s recent criticism of the Muslim League is also seen as further proof of a growing backroom alliance between the UDF and Sangh-affiliated forces.
With the by-election just around the corner, the political temperature in Nilambur continues to rise. The Left hopes that the people will once again rally behind secular values and resist what it sees as an opportunistic and dangerous political alliance.