Ariff is an Indian politician and Member of Parliament representing Alappuzha constituency.
A zealous member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he represented Aroor constituency in Kerala Legislative assembly from 2006 to 2019.
In a major electoral upset in the 2006 assembly elections, he defeated then-state Agriculture Minister and veteran politician K.R.
Gouriamma.
In the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections, he was placed third in the list of candidates who secured the most votes.
In 2017, he was awarded the Best MLA in India Award by Kashmir to Kerala Social Foundation.
In 17th Lok Sabha he is the only LDF and CPIM MP from Kerala.