P V Anvar — The Left-Backed Independent MLA Whose Allegations Have Put Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan In A Spot

P V Anvar, a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Nilambur in Kerala’s Malappuram district is the talk of the town after his explosive allegations against two people considered close to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — his political secretary, P Sasi, and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), M R Ajith Kumar.

What surprised many is that Anvar had chosen to go against his own government. (Though he is an independent, he had been elected due to support from the Left).

The allegations — that Ajith Kumar is involved in gold smuggling, tapping the phones of politicians, murders, corruption and that Sasi was controlling the police force, have left the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a tough spot. 

Any decisive action against the duo would lead to questions over the role of Vijayan, who is already being targeted by the Left cadre for the poor performance of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress too waded into the controversy about Kumar's functioning and alleged that he had struck a deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat. It also claimed that Kumar had met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabele for the purpose.

Anvar’s Backstory — Congressman Turned Left Independent Who Made His Millions In Africa

Like many Muslims in Malappuram, Anvar too was initially with the Congress. He was part of the party's student wing, the Kerala Students Union (KSU) during his college days.

After studies, he ventured into business and set his eyes abroad. While many entrepreneurs from the state made their fortunes in Gulf countries, Anvar chose Africa and made his money in the mining sector.

His second foray into politics, however came as an independent.

While he received the CPI(M)’s backing in the 2011 assembly election, when he contested from the Ernad seat, he didn’t receive their support in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad. 

According to a political commentator who spoke with Swarajya, a good chunk of the around 37,000 votes received by Anvar during that election were from the Nilambur assembly constituency.

“Nilambur had been a Congress stronghold earlier and it is only through Anvar that the CPI(M) has been able to make a breakthrough. Aryadan Muhammad of the Congress had dominated the seat in the past few decades.”

Asked as to what made the CPI(M) back him, he said that it was a part of the party's strategy to gain inroads among Muslims.

“The CPI(M) has been supporting wealthy Muslim businessmen like Anvar and Karat Razak who are able to get a sizeable chunk of the Muslim vote. The remainder is taken care of by the party's existing support base. And that is what is powering them in places like Nilambur, which have a large minority population who have traditionally voted for the Congress.”

Corruption, Illegal Check Dams And Mysterious Disappearance

Anvar himself has been accused of corruption and land encroachments.

He was accused of building illegal check dams for a theme park owned by him. According to environmentalists, these dams obstructed the natural flow of the Iruvazhinji river, which flows through the area.

Further, in the months leading up to the 2021 assembly elections, he was not seen in the state for a long time. Anvar later posted on social media stating that he had been in Sierra Leone and was working to set up a gold mining project that would create 25,000 jobs.

Allegations Come At A Time When Vijayan Is Seen As Weaker Than Before

While how much of Anvar's allegations are true is not known, it is a part of a larger trend that is shaping up after the Lok Sabha elections, in which the Left performed poorly.

A few months back, branch meetings of the Communist Party of India (CPI) saw a lot of criticism of Vijayan and his style of functioning. For somebody known to control the government and the party with an iron hand, this was unthinkable till sometime ago.

Attesting this observation, the commentator said, "After the elections, Vijayan and his coterie are seen to be weak and so everyone is coming together and blasting whoever they feel as not having been favourable to them.

"The fact that Anvar's allegations have not been dismissed by old school communists like the new LDF convenor, T P Ramakrishnan, show that a lot of internal politics has come out in the open and people within the party who do not want Vijayan's unfettered power to continue, feel that this is the right time to strike."

Also Read: Kerala: Why Pinarayi Vijayan Is Under Fire From His Own Partymen