The growing public support for Anwar, despite his status as an independent MLA, has surprised many. But who exactly is PV Anwar? Why does his voice carry so much weight, and what does his political future hold, especially in a region where identity politics play a crucial role?
Published Sep 29, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2024 | 11:00 AM
Nilambur Independent MLA PV Anwar. (Supplied)
PV Anwar, an independent MLA from Nilambur in Kerala’s Malabar region, has dominated headlines for several days, shaking the state’s political landscape with his sharp criticisms against the ruling party—CPI(M), and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
In a state where the CPI(M) has a strong cadre system, dissent is usually met with swift action, and someone like Anwar would typically be expelled after his initial allegations. However, the delay in action raised questions.
Finally, Anwar declared his exit from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and has since been making bold moves, including sharing Google forms asking the public to rate the government’s performance, and hinting at forming a new political party.
The growing public support for Anwar, despite his status as an independent MLA, has surprised many. Anwar’s rise in prominence and critical stance have led to repeated comments from the CPI(M)’s top brass, including the chief minister and party secretary, who claimed that Anwar has “Congress DNA.”
But who exactly is PV Anwar? Why does his voice carry so much weight, and what does his political future hold, especially in a region where identity politics play a crucial role?
As Kerala watches this political drama unfold, Anwar’s next moves could have far-reaching consequences for the state’s political balance.
Anwar’s political journey began with the Congress party, continuing a legacy deeply rooted in his family’s history. His grandfather, Mohammed Haji, and father, PV Shoukathali, were both freedom fighters.
In 1962, Shoukathali contested in the Lok Sabha elections, with none other than Jawaharlal Nehru staying at their home during the campaign. A long-standing member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Shoukathali’s contributions, along with his family’s historical involvement in the freedom movement and politics, have made them well-known figures in the political circles of Malabar.
Anwar began his political journey with the Congress party, where he served as the district vice president of the Youth Congress, emerging as one of its prominent young leaders. Later, he joined the Democratic Indira Congress (DIC) alongside K Karunakaran and K Muraleedharan.
However, when the DIC faced setbacks, Karunakaran and Muraleedharan returned to Congress. Anwar, on the other hand, sought to carve out his own independent political path.
In the 2011 Assembly elections, he ran as an independent candidate from the Eranad constituency, finishing second. While in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he contested from Wayanad as an independent but was unsuccessful.
In 2016, backed by the CPI(M), he ran as an independent candidate in Nilambur, breaking the Congress’ three-decade-long hold on the seat. He repeated this victory in 2021. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he contested from Ponnani but faced defeat.
As a businessman and politician, Anwar has been involved in numerous controversies, including allegations of land encroachment and illegal construction activities. In February 2021, he faced a significant backlash on social media over his visit to Africa.
A section of netizens humorously flooded the Facebook page of Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, with sarcastic memes, demanding the release of Anwar from a supposed jail in Ghana. The online uproar grew quickly, however, Anwar later clarified on social media that he was in Sierra Leone for business purposes.
Political expert Sreejith Panickar, speaking with South First, said, “The support PV Anwar receives from the public is highly relevant. Although he was backed by CPI(M), his strength lies in building a robust base without traditional party support, a rarity in today’s political landscape. Notable figures like KB Ganesh Kumar and KT Jaleel also reflect this trend.”
Panickar further weighed in on Anwar’s popularity aspect, “This dynamic is evident in Anwar’s social media presence, despite raising serious allegations against ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and CPI(M), his support remains strong.”
“Anwar’s appeal transcends the Muslim majority demographic of Malappuram, primarily because he raises issues that resonate with the public interest. Many of his allegations could not simply be dismissed as invalid. How the CPI(M) has handled Anwar’s allegations has also been problematic,” he added.
Citing an example of the issue raised by Anwar, which caused conflicts in CPI (M), Panickar noted, “For instance, regarding his claims about the chief minister’s political secretary, P Sasi, the chief minister initially denied the need for an inquiry. However, CPI(M) Secretary MV Govindan later contradicted this by announcing an inquiry would begin soon. Such conflicts in leadership have become increasingly visible.”
“Additionally, the credibility of Kerala’s opposition parties has waned, with Govindan noting that Anwar’s allegations were not raised by other opposition figures. As a result, many view Anwar as a greater opposition force.’’
Panickar further stated that, ”MV Govindan suggested Anwar’s fight would not significantly impact the upcoming elections in the Malabar region, citing Anwar’s previous electoral failures. There remains a belief that Anwar cannot win an election without party support.”
Elaborating on the situation, if Anwar chose to contest independently, Panickar notes, “A four-way tie could emerge, increasing his chances of winning. Currently, the UDF is not backing Anwar and is unable to tolerate his earlier remarks about Rahul Gandhi. As an ally of the UDF, the IUML cannot make unilateral decisions.”
He further opined, “The general public sentiment in Malabar appears to support Anwar, and even dedicated party supporters are expressing doubts, particularly regarding rumors about Vijayan’s successor being PA Mohammed Riyas. This context lends weight to Anwar’s allegations, and in my view, the CPI(M) has failed to effectively counter them. Nevertheless, these dynamics may shift, as political alliances are often fluid, with no permanent friends or enemies.”
Another political expert Joseph C Mathew stated that the LDF’s blind decisions are the primary reason behind the ongoing controversies.
He noted that the party supported Anwar in Nilambur solely based on his perceived winnability.
Mathew expressed uncertainty on CPI(M)’s candidate selection process, citing instances like their offer to actor Mukesh for the Kollam seat, which he believes lacks any political rationale and instead reflects the personal preferences of party leaders.
He emphasised that politics in the Malabar region differs significantly, highlighting leaders like VS Achuthanandan, who never allowed the party to align with the Muslim League. “Instead, CPI(M) leaders have started engaging with wealthy individuals who can attract votes through their charisma, like Anwar and KT Jaleel. These individuals, being businesspeople, have established closer connections with CPI(M) leaders than many dedicated party workers.”
Mathew also observed that there seemed to be a plan to offer a ministerial position to Anwar. However, this was postponed due to various factors, including Anwar’s involvement in multiple controversies.
While the party initially nurtured Anwar, he has since turned against them.
Regarding the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Mathew explained that its lack of support for Anwar is part of expressing gratitude related to the 2011 sexual allegation case—the ice cream parlour case.
He pointed out that the national general secretary of IUML, PK Kunhalikkutty, is unlikely to support anyone who speaks out against P Sasi, the political secretary, who played a crucial role in Kunhalikkutty’s defence during that case. Kunhalikkutty is also responsible for convincing Congress leaders to withdraw support for Anwar.
Mathew concluded that these dynamics reflect a conflict between business interests and political parties.
However, he believes that Anwar’s support is unlikely to endure in the long term, as none of the allegations have lasting impacts, and his criticisms mainly focus on administrative lapses.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
