Thiruvananthapuram, March 14 – With the upcoming Assembly elections, two legendary figures from Kerala’s football scene, I.M. Vijayan and U. Sharaf Ali, had been the subject of speculation in political circles, raising questions about whether these sporting icons would enter the political arena.
However, on Saturday, I.M. Vijayan ended the speculation, clarifying that he had no interest in contesting the elections.
This development has now put the spotlight squarely on Sharaf Ali, who is widely expected to be fielded by the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front from the football-loving Nilambur constituency in Malappuram district.
His candidacy is almost certain, as he recently resigned as President of the Kerala State Sports Council, a position he had held since 2023.
Vijayan, one of India’s most celebrated footballers and a former captain of the national team, had been widely speculated as a potential entrant into electoral politics.
The former striker, who formed a formidable attacking partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia in the late 1990s and early 2000s, remains one of the most recognizable faces in Indian football.
Having scored 29 international goals in 72 appearances for India and captained the national side between 2000 and 2004, Vijayan later ventured into coaching and grassroots development, establishing a football academy in his hometown to nurture young talent.
He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2003 and more recently, the Padma Shri in 2025, for his contribution to the sport.
Vijayan retired from the Kerala Police last year.
Meanwhile, Sharaf Ali brings a different profile to the political landscape.
A former Indian international defender from Malappuram, he was part of the celebrated Kerala Police football team that dominated domestic football in the 1990s.
Alongside players such as V.P. Sathyan and C.V. Pappachan, Sharaf played a key role in strengthening the Kerala side that won the Santosh Trophy in 1992 and 1993.
Sharaf also represented India in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and later rose through the ranks of the Kerala Police, eventually serving as a commandant.
In recent years, he moved into sports administration.
With Vijayan stepping aside from electoral politics, the political contest in Nilambur may now well hinge on Sharaf Ali, a footballer whose popularity in Malappuram’s football heartland could translate into valuable political capital as the campaign gathers momentum.
He will be contesting against incumbent Congress legislator Aryadan Shoukath, who won his first election in a by-election last year.