Kochi, May 27 -- The Congress national leadership on Monday announced Aryadan Shoukath as its candidate in the upcoming by-election in the Nilambur assembly constituency in Kerala.

The candidacy of Shoukath, a politician-cum-screenwriter and son of veteran Congress leader and eight-time MLA Aryadan Mohammed, was announced by the AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge based on the recommendation sent by the state leadership.

The announcement comes the same day the ECI published the gazette notification for the Nilambur by-election scheduled to be held on June 19. The vacancy in the seat arose after sitting MLA PV Anvar resigned as legislator on Jan 13 following differences with the LDF leadership and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Anvar was...