Khader, Basheer to lock horns in Kerala assembly bypoll

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Monday named former legislator K.N.A. Khader as its candidate for the bypoll in the Vengara assembly constituency in Malappuram.

Khader, presently the IUML District Secretary in Malappuram, has proved his mettle as a legislator in the past.

IUML State President Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal made the announcement as the Election Commission has scheduled the bypoll for October 11.

The IUML is the second biggest ally of the Congress-led UDF. The bypoll became necessary after sitting legislator and top IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty vacated the seat after being elected from the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency in April this year.

The CPI-M has named P.P. Basheer, who had contested against Kunhalikutty in the 2016 assembly polls and lost by a margin of 38,057 votes, as its candidate.

The last date of filing nominations is September 22.

In this year's Lok Sabha by-election, Kunhalikutty increased his margin from the constituency, which comes under the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency to 40,529 votes.

--IANS

sg/amit/vm