Major political fronts in Kozhikode are keeping their fingers crossed ahead of the counting of votes for the Assembly elections on Monday (May 4, 2026) as the results here could play a pivotal role in the government formation in the State.
The district has a number of constituencies to watch out for. In Perambra, Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener and incumbent MLA T.P. Ramakrishnan was pitted against the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Fathima Thahiliya. A campaign announcement by the LDF with alleged communal overtones had kicked up a row here. In Beypore, Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas took on former LDF legislator P.V. Anvar, a UDF-backed Independent candidate. In Elathur, Minister for Forest and Wildlife and Nationalist Congress Party veteran A.K. Saseendran fought against Vidya Balakrishnan of the UDF. Mr. Saseendran has had to overcome an internal rebellion of sorts against his candidature to finally enter the fray. Another key contest is taking place in Vadakara, where the Revolutionary Marxist Party’s lone MLA K.K. Rema sought a second term in office.
For the LDF, the district has been one of its strongholds for long. In the 2021 polls, it had won 11 of the 13 seats here. This time, however, even hardcore loyalists are not predicting a similar performance. Soon after the polls, a section of the media reported, quoting internal discussions within the district secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], that the LDF was likely to lose Nadapuram, Thiruvambady, and Kozhikode South constituencies. However, party district secretary M. Mehboob later rebuffed such reports. The recent exit poll surveys, meanwhile, have predicted only four or five seats for the ruling front.
Published – May 03, 2026 07:50 pm IST
