A. M. Ariff: A Prominent Figure Vying For Re-Election In Alappuzha Constituency (image-facebook/AM Ariff)

As the political landscape heats up ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, in Alappuzha, all eyes are on A. M. Ariff, the seasoned politician and incumbent Member of Parliament (and the only CPI (M) legislator from Kerala in the lower house) representing the Alappuzha constituency. With a distinguished track record in both state and national politics, Ariff emerges as a formidable contender, seeking re-election to continue his legacy of service and advocacy.

A familiar face of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), A. M. Ariff has long been a prominent figure in Kerala’s political arena. His journey into politics began in his student days, where he actively participated in student politics and rose through the ranks of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the student and youth wings of the CPI(M) respectively.

Born in Mannar, Alappuzha, Ariff’s political career witnessed a significant milestone in 2006 when he won in the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, defeating the then-state Agriculture Minister and veteran politician K. R. Gouriamma. His subsequent re-elections in 2011 and 2016 solidified his position as a trusted representative of the people of Aroor constituency.

In 2019, he transitioned to the national stage, winning the Alappuzha Lok Sabha seat in a hotly contested battle, where he triumphed over Congress candidate Advocate Shanimol Usman by a margin of 10,474 votes.

As the sole representative of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and CPI(M) from Kerala in the Lok Sabha, Ariff was one of the 146 opposition MP”s who were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Winter Session over raising questions over the Parliament security breach incident.

Beyond his legislative achievements, A. M. Ariff”s dedication to public service has been recognized through accolades such as the Best MLA in India Award by the Kashmir to Kerala Social Foundation in 2017.

Ariff had won from a constituency which was represented by Congress” stalwarts like KC Venugopal and VM Sudheeran in the past. Standing tall while all other LDF candidates were defeated in the last elections had made Ariff a hero among the Left supporters in the state and outside.