Malappuram (Kerala) [India], June 15 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan on Sunday drew an analogy from his sporting career to endorse the TMC Kerala Convenor PV Anwar and described him as a key figure poised to deliver a decisive victory in the Nilambur by-election.

Pathan highlighted Anwar's significant influence in the constituency, likening him to an 'opener' or 'player of the match' rather than just an 'impact player'. Pathan was refering to 'impact player' rule first seen in the Indian Premier League (IPL).2022.

'TMC leader PV Anwar has already made a big impact here. TMC will support him a lot and will continue to do so... Not an impact player, but he is an opener or player of the match... After the election, you will understand the real impact that he has had as a player and how significant a match-winner he is,' Pathan said, emphasising Anwar's importance to the party's campaign.

The TMC MP is in Kerala to campaign for Anwar for the upcoming Nilambur by-polls, which are scheduled to take place on June 19, with results to be declared on June 23.

Anwar, who was the MLA from Nilambur, joined TMC back in January, following which he resigned from the post of the MLA, leading to the by-polls in this Kerala Assembly seat.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is hopeful of a 'good victory' in the Nilambur by-election, said everyone in the party and the UDF is fighting together in the by-election.

'We are fighting very well for the (Nilambur) by-poll, and we are hopeful for a good victory... Everyone in our party and the UDF is fighting together. I am pleased to see everyone putting in hard work. I think we will do very well,' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.

Notably in Malappuram, Congress leader Shama Mohamed said that such an election is a 'waste of the state's money,' criticising PV Anwar for resigning as Nilambur MLA but contesting the by-elections anyway under a different political party.

She also expressed confidence in the United Democratic Front (UDF) winning the assembly seat.

'In the history of India, it's the first time that an MLA who resigned (PV Anwar) from a seat is standing again for the same seat, that too for a by-election. So what is the point of wasting the state's money, people's work, and the EC's involvement?' the Congress leader told ANI.

Claiming that Anvar is 'fooling the people of Kerala', she said that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) themselves attack Anvar for not doing work in his constituency, despite being aligned with them before his resignation.

Apart from UDF candidate Shoukath, the LDF aims to retain its seat by having M Swaraj contest, and the BJP has fielded Mohan George. (ANI)