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Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Votes in Kannur, Eyes Historic Third Term

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote in Kannur for the 2026 Assembly elections, where he is contesting from the Dharmadham constituency. He is aiming for a historic third consecutive term, facing challenges from the UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed and the BJP's K Ranjith. The opposition is employing a "Dual Front" strategy to counter the LDF's stronghold by highlighting local issues and anti-incumbency. Polling for the 140-seat Kerala Legislative Assembly is currently underway, with results scheduled for May 4.

Key Points: Pinarayi Vijayan Votes in Kerala Assembly Polls, Seeks Third Term

  • CM Vijayan seeks historic third term
  • Faces challenge from UDF and BJP's "Dual Front"
  • Won 2021 election by over 50,000 votes
  • Polling underway for 140-seat Assembly
2 min read

Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan casts vote for Assembly polls in Kannur

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan casts his vote in Kannur, contesting from Dharmadham against UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed and BJP's K Ranjith.

"Kannur remains the soul of the CPIM, and a win here reinforces the party's 'invincibility' narrative. - Analysis"

Kannur, April 9

Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday cast his vote for the 2026 Assembly elections at a polling booth in Pinarayi RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School in Kannur.

Pinarayi Vijayan is eyeing a historic third consecutive term from the Dharmadham constituency. While the constituency is a storied fortress for the Left, the 2026 race is shaping up to be more than just a victory lap, both from the United Democratic Front led by Congress, and BJP led National Democratic Alliance.

The UDF have fielded VP Abdul Rasheed against the Chief Minister, whereas on the other hand, K Ranjith is contesting on the BJP's ticket.

Pinarayi Vijayan won comfortably in 2016 and 2021, and the CM is banking on the completion of major bypasses and local development projects. Moreover, Kannur remains the soul of the CPIM, and a win here reinforces the party's "invincibility" narrative, while also showcasing Kerala as a modern, tech-forward state. In 2021, Vijayan won by over 50,000 votes.

The opposition isn't letting the CM walk over the finish line without a fight. This year, the challenge is characterised by a "Dual Front" strategy designed to chip away at the LDF's massive lead. UDF, banking on anti-incumbency, is highlighting local grievances, youth unemployment, and allegations of administrative overreach.

According to the Election Commission of India, in Dharmadam, there are a total of 1,84,844 electors, out of which 85,665 are male voters, while the other 99,179 are female.

During the 2021 elections, Vijayan ended up securing 95,522 (59.8 per cent) votes against the United Democratic Front candidate C Raghunathan, who received 28.4 per cent of the total votes polled.

In 2016, the Kerala CM, who contested from the seat for the first time, secured a victory by a margin of 30,905 votes from UDF's Mambaram Divakaran. Vijayan had received 87,329 votes, whereas a total of 50,424 electors voted for Divakaran.

Polling for the 140-seat Keralam Legislative Assembly is underway today, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

Both the incumbent LDF and the Opposition Congress-led UDF are eyeing to breach the 71-seat mark, while the BJP-led NDA is looking to enter the Assembly via the gateway opened in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation polls.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Strong opposition is healthy for democracy. The UDF raising issues like youth unemployment is valid. Let's see if the "Dual Front" strategy can make this a real contest.
A
Aman W
Dharmadam is a CPIM fortress, no doubt. But winning by 50,000+ votes last time shows massive support. The BJP candidate will likely split some anti-LDF votes, which might help Vijayan again.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, while the development narrative is strong, I hope voters also scrutinize the allegations of administrative overreach. No government should be beyond questioning, even a popular one.
K
Karthik V
Interesting to see more female voters than male in the constituency! That's a powerful demographic. Whichever party addresses women's issues effectively could gain an edge.
V
Vikram M
The real battle is for the 71-seat mark in the assembly. Kannur is symbolic, but the result in Thiruvananthapuram and whether BJP opens its account will define Kerala's politics for years.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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