Thiruvananthapauram: Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) will field senior Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader KNA Khader as its candidate for the October 11 bypoll to the state Assembly from Vengara constituency.
IUML state President Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal on Monday announced Khader's candidature in Malappuram.
An advocate and orator, Khader is now serving as IUML's Malappuram district secretary.
Though the party leadership considered the name of general secretary KPA Majeed for the candidature, he confirmed yesterday that he was not willing to contest as he was already holding the key post in the party.
IUML is part of the opposition United Democratic Front.
The by-election was necessitated following the resignation of the sitting MLA and veteran IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty on his election to the Lok Sabha from Malappuram in April this year.
The Lok Sabha bypoll was caused by the demise of former Union Minister E Ahmed. Ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has already finalised CPI(M) worker PP Basheer as its candidate.
However, BJP is yet announce its candidate for the bypoll.
Kunhalikutty in a Facebook post said that Vengara constituency had the tradition of giving an impressive majority to UDF candidates and the history would repeat in the upcoming by elections too.
In the 2016 Assembly polls, Kunhalikutty had won the Vengara seat with a margin of 38,057 votes as the candidate of UDF.
The last date for filing of nominations is September 22.
