Kozhikode, April 2 – CPI(M) candidate, State Tourism Minister and son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, is planning to file a complaint with the Election Commission against UDF nominee P.V. Anvar in Beypore, alleging character assassination in the intensifying electoral contest in this historically significant port constituency.
The complaint alleges that Anvar has been repeatedly targeting Riyas and members of Vijayan's family by using terms like "nepotism" and "Pinarayism," which constitute personal attacks in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Anvar has openly framed his campaign as a fight against "Pinarayism" and "nepotism," further intensifying the rhetoric in what was long considered a safe stronghold for the Left.
Located in Kerala's historic maritime region, Beypore has a legacy of unity shaped by trade, craftsmanship, and labor.
From its centuries-old shipbuilding yards to the famed "kalasis," the tightly coordinated and physically resilient labor groups who operated massive "uru" vessels, Beypore has historically embodied collective strength and discipline, traits that have often mirrored its stable, Left-leaning political character.
However, this equilibrium is now under strain. Riyas's political ascent, from his electoral debut in Beypore following his marriage into the Chief Minister's family, to his swift induction into the cabinet handling key portfolios like Public Works and Tourism, and later into the CPI(M) state secretariat, has been closely watched within political circles.
However, the re-emergence of Anvar, a two-time former independent MLA backed by the Left who later had a falling out with CM Vijayan and resigned from the Assembly, has unsettled the political landscape.
After a brief period as an independent candidate and a failed by-election bid, Anvar has rejoined the Congress-led UDF, positioning himself as a direct challenger to the Chief Minister's political line.
As sharp exchanges give way to formal complaints, Beypore, once defined by its disciplined rhythms and political predictability, is witnessing new currents.
Whether its tradition of cohesion, much like that of its "kalasis," will hold firm or succumb to disruption will be closely watched in the coming days.
Kerala will go to the polls on April 9 to elect 140 new legislators. The results will be announced on May 4.
