CM Pinarayi Vijayan urges Nilambur voters to elect M Swaraj with a high-margin victory

Nilambur: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, addressing a stirring election convention of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Nilambur, said the ongoing by-election was the direct result of political betrayal. Speaking to a large and enthusiastic crowd, he framed the election as a decisive moment shaped by both past sacrifices and present challenges.
Pinarayi Vijayan said that the massive turnout at LDF rallies across the constituency reflected growing public confidence in M Swaraj, the LDF’s candidate. He noted that Swaraj's candidature had gained traction among people from all political backgrounds, including members of opposition parties who had joined the campaign after being impressed by his clean image and personal integrity.
“The people of Nilambur are uniting under Swaraj’s leadership not because of his party affiliation, but because of his honest character. He has a clean image, and he can ask for votes with his head held high,” said the Chief Minister.
Drawing on Nilambur’s historical significance in India’s freedom struggle, Pinarayi Vijayan recalled the legacy of Variyamkunnath Haji, who was betrayed by a close associate during the 1921 farmers’ uprising. He compared that betrayal to the present political situation in Nilambur, which he described as another unfortunate outcome of broken trust.

Crowd in Nilambur LDF Convention

Shifting focus to governance, Pinarayi Vijayan highlighted the achievements of the LDF government over the past nine years. He stated that the party did not make empty promises and instead focused on measurable progress. One of the key accomplishments he mentioned was Kerala’s significant reduction in corruption, which has helped the state emerge as one of the least corrupt in the country. He credited this to the government’s sustained effort and commitment to good governance.
“Kerala has become a model for good governance. Corruption doesn’t decrease on its own,it takes hard work and commitment. The LDF has made it happen, and no other party can claim this achievement,” he said.
Vijayan listed several achievements of his administration, including the successful containment of the Nipah virus, marked improvements in the public education system, and better national rankings for Kerala’s universities. He proudly noted that 16 of the top 100 colleges in India are now in Kerala, signaling a major leap in the state’s higher education sector.
He also pointed out the government’s welfare initiatives, such as increasing the monthly pension amount from 600 rupees to 1600 rupees and releasing 18 months’ worth of pensions that had been withheld during the previous Congress-led government. In addition, he highlighted the distribution of homes to the homeless and land to the landless during the LDF’s tenure.
Turning to the economy, the Chief Minister said Kerala now ranks at the top in the Ease of Doing Business index. He credited the LDF’s policies for significant improvements in the agricultural sector and various key industries, which have undergone what he described as a tremendous transformation in the last nine years.
Vijayan also reiterated Kerala’s strong commitment to communal harmony. He contrasted the state's peaceful atmosphere with rising incidents of communal violence in other parts of India, stating that Kerala would not tolerate the growth of any religious extremist groups.
“While other states report atrocities against minorities, Kerala stands apart, maintaining peace and unity. We will not allow any religious extremist groups to flourish,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, Pinarayi Vijayan called on the people of Nilambur to elect M Swaraj with a decisive margin. He said that Swaraj’s presence in the Legislative Assembly would help continue the LDF’s work and its commitment to the people of Kerala.
“We are waiting for Swaraj in the Legislative Assembly. You must elect him and send him there to serve the people of Kerala,” he concluded.