P V Anwar Issues Bold “Head-Shave”Challenge to Mohammed Riyas in Beypore Showdown
Former LDF Ally turned UDF-backed Candidate Vows to Walk the Streets of Kozhikode in Earrings if Defeated
KOZHIKODE: The electoral battle for the Beypore constituency has taken a dramatic and personal turn as UDF-backed independent candidate P.V. Anvar issued an unusual public dare to his rival, State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas. Speaking to reporters on April 30, 2026, Anvar declared that if he loses the upcoming election on May 4, he will “shave his head, wear earrings, and walk through the streets of Kozhikode” from Kidson Corner to the railway station.
Anvar, a former LDF MLA who broke ties with the Left front following public disputes with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accused Riyas of being “overconfident.” The challenge was sparked by Riyas’s earlier claim that he would secure a record-breaking victory margin of over 82,000 votes in the CPI(M) stronghold. Anvar dismissed these claims as unrealistic, challenging the Minister to a similar “agreement” where Riyas would also shave his head if the results favored the UDF.
The contest in Beypore is one of the most high-profile duels in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. Riyas, the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is seeking a second term in a constituency that has remained a Left bastion for over four decades. Meanwhile, Anvar has reframed the campaign as a referendum on “Pinarayism” and “nepotism,” banking on anti-incumbency and his image as a maverick outsider to pull off an upset.
While Riyas has focused his campaign on a development-centric pitch—citing nearly ₹1,800 crore in infrastructure spending—Anvar’s aggressive rhetoric has added a layer of unpredictability to the race. As the state awaits the counting of votes on May 4, this “head-shave challenge” has become the latest flashpoint in a campaign defined by shifting loyalties and high-stakes personal rivalries.