The outcome of the by-election in Nilambur will be a crucial indicator for the upcoming panchayat elections in Kerala as well as next year’s Assembly elections in the state. Both the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Opposition United Democratic Front, led by the Congress, are hoping to score a victory in order to make a statement about their prospects. The high-octane campaign for a lone Assembly seat drawing in bigwigs like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress’ Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as well as the continued media focus, is indicative of the importance of Nilambur for Kerala’s politics. The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of the Left-backed Independent P.V. Anvar some months ago after levelling a series of allegations........

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