In the social media arena, well-known writers, cultural icons, and artists threw their weight behind LDF candidate M Swaraj and UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath — two contenders celebrated for their intellect and creative flair.
Published Jun 13, 2025 | 12:07 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 13, 2025 | 12:07 PM
LDF candidate M Swaraj hugging writer Nilambur Ayisha, UDF candidate Aryadan Soukath during campaigning.
Synopsis: Ahead of the crucial by-election in Nilambur, a war of words has been ongoing between prominent writers, artists and cultural icons. In the social media arena, they threw their weight behind LDF candidate M Swaraj and UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath.
As the Nilambur Assembly by-election enters its final stretch, the battle for votes has spilt beyond political rallies and campaign trails into Kerala’s vibrant literary and cultural arenas.
What began as a contest of numbers has now turned into a war of words between prominent writers, artists and cultural icons, raising a provocative question: Should the conscience keepers of society rally behind the treasury bench, side with the Opposition, or carve out an independent moral space?
In the social media arena, well-known writers, cultural icons, and artists threw their weight behind LDF candidate M Swaraj and UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath — two contenders celebrated for their intellect and creative flair.
However, the atmosphere truly ignited with ‘Samskarika Keralam Swarajinoppam’ (Cultural Kerala with Swaraj), a spirited cultural evening organised by the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham, the Left’s cultural front, in Nilambur on Wednesday, 11 June. The event eventually flung open the floodgates.
The by-election in Nilambur Assembly constituency will take place on 19 June, and the results will be declared on 23 June.
The storm began when renowned writer Vaishakhan (MK Gopinathan Nair) came out in support of LDF candidate Swaraj, dismissing allegations that writers were rallying behind him for personal gain.
A poster of the programme organized by PUKASA at Nilambur
His remarks came in response to Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan’s earlier comment accusing writers of backing Swaraj in pursuit of power.
Vaishakhan hit back, asserting that writers are discerning individuals who know where their loyalties lie. “Writers are intelligent enough to decide what deserves their support. It’s absurd to belittle their stance,” he said.
However, Vaishakhan’s defence drew sharp rebuttal from fellow writer Kalpatta Narayanan, who questioned his authority to speak on behalf of the literary community.
“Who made Vaishakhan the spokesperson for all writers?” he asked pointedly, adding, “His positions in places like the Sahitya Akademi came through his Communist affiliations. Swaraj is not a figure above party politics. He may be an avid reader, but his loyalty has only served the party’s interests. He has never called out the party’s mistakes. It’s wrong to generalise that the entire literary fraternity is standing with him.”
It was amidst this war of words that a collective of Left-leaning cultural figures descended upon Nilambur on Wednesday to campaign for Swaraj. The event, titled ‘Cultural Kerala with Swaraj’, was inaugurated by writer Nilambur Ayisha and presided over by Professor MM Narayanan.
A lineup of notable personalities, including Professor KP Mohanan, TD Ramakrishnan, KEN, Ashokan Charuvil, PT Kunjumuhammed, Alankode Leelakrishnan, Sheela Tomy, KP Ramanunni, Karivellur Murali, Priyanandanan and Vidhu Vincent, voiced their support at the meet.
It was the Left-leaning Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (PUKASA) which organised the event.
Veteran actor and activist Ayisha made an impassioned pitch for LDF candidate Swaraj, saying Nilambur needed a leader like him who could stand firm against superstition and injustice, and work for the constituency’s development.
“I was born in a sacred India, but today there’s sadness in its condition. Earlier, theatre, cinema and politics all stood against superstition and immorality. Now, Swaraj is the one carrying that flame,” she said at the programme.
Nilambur Ayisha during the programme
Dismissing critics who claimed she had boarded a “sinking ship”, Ayisha asserted, “I have been on this ship for a long time. Swaraj is with the people, and Nilambur will make him win.”
Echoing similar sentiments, noted writers Kunhimohammed and KEN Kunhahamed said Swaraj had already secured an ideological victory in Nilambur, regardless of the final count.
Kunhahamed likened Swaraj to an “unquenchable flame,” saying, “There are two kinds of victories in elections. The LDF candidate has already achieved the ideological one. If there’s a foundation of hope, one can rise from any setback.”
Writer Ramakrishnan underlined that artists and writers have a social responsibility to take political positions. “Some people think it’s wrong for writers to express their ideas. But in Kerala, writers and artists will continue to intervene and take a stand. Swaraj’s victory is our collective victory,” he said.
Nilambur Ayisha’s FB post
However, Ayisha’s endorsement did not go down well with some, and she faced a vicious cyber attack after publicly endorsing LDF candidate Swaraj in the Nilambur bye-election.
Unfazed, the legendary artiste hit back through a social media post: “I entered theatre in the 1950s, staging plays to grow the party. Back then, I faced hunger, beatings, and even bullets — this cyber abuse won’t shake me. This ‘thallachi’ (old lady) still stands with the party. If the ignorant are saying otherwise, I forgive them. May love win over hatred.”
Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan came down heavily on the trolls: “I strongly condemn the despicable cyber attacks by UDF supporters against Nilambur Ayisha — the pride of Malayalam theatre. It’s shameful to personally target a senior artiste for her political stand. Ayisha represents Kerala’s resilience and progressive spirit. Those attempting to silence her should know — you can’t hide the sun with your hands.”
The minister called on Kerala to unanimously reject such toxic trends and stand firmly with Ayisha, upholding the state’s democratic and cultural values.
Cyberspace is ablaze with a fierce battle of words as writers, poets, and artists take sides ahead of the crucial polls in Nilambur.
Renowned novelist and activist Sarah Joseph fired a scathing broadside, declaring, “Whether it’s Swaraj, Shaukat or BJP — the cries of marginalised ASHAs will remain unheard. Even if they die on the streets, party loyalists will swallow their words without permission.”
She accused political fronts of exploiting platforms while pretending to champion the poor and Dalits.
Bose Krishnamachari extending his support to M Swaraj.
Poet K Satchidanandan, meanwhile, voiced support for the INDIA bloc nationally but lamented its absence in Kerala’s political fabric. “In this land of contradictions, individuals matter. Swaraj is ideologically my preference,” he stated.
Novelist KR Meera mocked the Congress for “choosing the perfect opponent” and accoladed Swaraj for starting the campaign by telling people about democratic etiquette and talking about Mangalassery Neelakandans and Ayyappan Koshis (both were characters from two different films) on Facebook and WhatsApp channels, who believes that political activity is humiliation and character assassination.
Adding to the fray, writer PF Mathews bemoaned the spectacle of “writers shedding tears for power.” Poet-lyricist Rafeeq Ahmed joined in with a satirical cartoon featuring 16th-century poet Poonthanam Namboothiri declaring support for PV Anvar, invoking his famous lines on political bickering.
Internationally acclaimed artist and curator Bose Krishnamachari calls Swaraj a visionary leader whose presence will make the Assembly a more dynamic and constructive space.
A Congress leader, wading into the storm, remarked acidly: “Those waxing lyrical about Swaraj today were always dear to the ruling front. They’ve either enjoyed the perks of patronage, are enjoying them, or are waiting in line to collect their share for their songs of praise.”
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Cherian Philip launched a sharp attack against writers and cultural figures campaigning for the CPI(M) candidate in Nilambur, accusing them of acting like “court jesters” to the ruling party.
In a strongly worded statement, Philip alleged that many of those campaigning for the Left candidate are individuals who have remained silent for years on issues affecting people’s lives but have now gathered on CPI(M) platforms for political gains.
He remarked that leading media outlets were giving undue prominence to what he described as “third-rate writers” while more significant matters, like the recent sighting of a tiger in Nilambur, went unnoticed.
Philip also alleged that several of these figures have previously secured awards and positions in cultural institutions through the patronage of the party and government.
He accused them of turning a blind eye to public concerns for the past nine years, only to now oppose Aryadan Shoukat — a National and State award-winning cultural activist known for his films promoting national integration.
And so, in Nilambur, what began as a bye-election has morphed into a referendum on Kerala’s cultural conscience. As poll day nears, Nilambur stands as a microcosm of a larger, lingering question: Should Kerala’s cultural torchbearers merely hold a mirror to politics, or dare to pick a side?
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
