Former Calicut University V-C is BJP’s LS candidate from Malappuram seat

Salam is slated to take on IUML’s seasoned Parliamentarian E T Muhammed Basheer. CPI(M) has fielded a young Muslim face, V Vaseef , the state president of DYFI.

Salam was V-C of Calicut University from 2011 to 2015, nominated by IUML. He joined the BJP in 2019 as the party was making efforts to bring in more minority faces into its fold.

In 2021, Salam contested the state polls from Tirur, but lost to IUML’s Kurukkoli Moideen, managing to garner only 5.33 per cent votes.

His tenure as Calicut University V-C was marked by controversial moves, including the bid to sell off varsity land and to admit students for degree courses without a plus-two qualification.