Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Idukki witnesses high-voltage Kottikalasam

The hectic campaigning for the Assembly elections in the hilly district of Idukki concluded on Tuesday evening.

Candidates, leaders and cadres from the three major political fronts gathered across the district centres for the Kottikalasam — the loud celebratory culmination of the election trail. In the Tamil-populated areas of Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumade, the Kottikalasam was marked by traditional Tamil-style celebrations.

In the Thodupuzha constituency, the United Democratic Front (UDF), Left Democratic Front (LDF), and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) held their grand finales in Thodupuzha town, while in Devikulam, all three parties converged in Munnar.

After former CPI(M) MLA S. Rajendran joined the BJP to contest from Devikulam, the constituency witnessed a particularly high-voltage campaign and closing ceremony on Tuesday. Kottikalasam was held at Nedumkandam town in Udumbanchola. In the Idukki constituency, LDF candidate Roshy Augustine conducted his event in Kattappana, while UDF candidate Roy K. Paulose held his gathering in Cheruthoni. In Peerumade, LDF candidate K. Salimkumar held his programme at Vandiperiyar, while the UDF candidate Syriac Thomas held his events across towns such as Kumily, Elappara and Vandiperiyar.

The fronts focused on land issues and human-animal conflict. LDF candidates claimed that the State government has resolved all land grievances in the district, while the UDF criticised the recommendations related to forests in the LDF manifesto. NDA candidates appealed for a “vote for change” from both traditional fronts.

Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan’s allegation that the 2018 floods were “man-made” was also widely discussed across the district on Tuesday.

Impact of SIR

However, a significant drop in the number of voters following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) remains a concern for all fronts in the Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumade constituencies. In these three areas, the electorate decreased by an average of over 20,000 votes.

In the last election, the total electorate in Peerumade was 1,74,354, but the recent list shows a decrease to 1,55,273. In Devikulam, the total number of voters dropped from 1,69,309 in 2021 to 1,41,206 — a shortage of 25,103 votes. In Udumbanchola, the count fell from 1,67,459 in 2021 to 149,111. By contrast, Thodupuzha saw a decrease of only 4,043 votes.

According to sources, the removal of “double votes” — Tamil voters holding cards in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu— resulted in the lower numbers in the new list. How this decrease in the voter base will impact the political outcome will only become clear once the election results are announced.