Kannur (Kerala) [India], May 25 (ANI): Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph on Sunday welcomed the declaration of bye-elections in Nilambur, stating that the poll would serve be a verdict against the anti-people policies and programs of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

'We welcome the declaration of the Nilambur byelection, though it is late. The UDF (United Democratic Front) and the Congress party are well prepared for the election... This election will be a verdict against the anti-people policies and programmes of the LDF (Left Democratic Front), their political atrocities, criminalisation of the police force, and the human-animal conflict being neglected by the government... ' Joseph told ANI.

He further mentioned that the candidate would be finalised at the earliest.

'We will finalise the candidate at the earliest. We are hopeful about the victory, that too, with a tremendous majority,' he added.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the schedule for bye-elections in Nilambur, which is being held to fill the seat vacated by PV Anvar, an LDF-backed MLA who had resigned in January this year.

Anvar was later appointed as the convenor of the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Meanwhile, the Election Commission also announced bye-election schedules for constituencies in Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Polling in these constituencies will take place on June 19, with vote counting scheduled for June 23.

In Gujarat, bye-elections will be held in the Kadi and Visavadar constituencies to fill the vacancies left by the death of Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki in February and the resignation of Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai.

In Punjab, the bye-election will be held in Ludhiana West to fill the post of Gurpreet Bassi Gogi after his demise their January.

West Bengal's Kaliganj constituency will also see a bye-election to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Nasiruddin Ahamed, who passed away due to cardiac arrest in February this year.

On January 13, TMC leader PV Anvar, after his resignation, announced that he would not contest the Nilambur bye-election but would extend full support to the Congress candidate to end the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government. (ANI)