Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: LDF seeks hat-trick, UDF eyes comeback in Mananthavady

With electioneering entering a critical phase, the lives and struggles of tribespeople are again taking the centre stage of discussions in Wayanad district’s Mananthavady Assembly constituency. Being a Scheduled Tribe-reserved constituency formed in 2011, promises are aplenty with political parties vowing to address tribal issues and ensure swift solutions.

Though this electorate has witnessed alternating political dominance over the years, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF) relished comparable influence. It comprises six grama panchayats: Edavaka, Panamaram, Thavinhal, Thirunelli, Thondarnad, and Vellamunda, along with Mananthavady municipality. Electoral success here is the outcome of grassroots engagement and community representation.  

As the constituency is all set for another close contest, the UDF and the LDF are proceeding with a high-pitch campaign, each seeking to consolidate support in a region known for its unpredictable electoral outcome. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken up the challenge of fielding a candidate outside the district to improve the National Democratic Alliance’s vote share.

The campaigners are all in action to project their candidates as the most accessible ones who can always be present in the community and take up their grievances for immediate solutions. As the constituency’s electoral pattern has clearly reflected it as a preference among voters in the earlier results, there are deliberate efforts to improve voter engagement. They are also aware that the outcomes are unpredictable with narrow victory margins and shifting loyalties.  

Adding a new dimension to the campaign, a coalition of Adivasi organisations under the banner of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha has come up with their disgruntlement over the reluctance of leading fronts to field a candidate from the Paniya community. According to them, the tribal community accounts for nearly 45% of the total tribal population in Wayanad district. The demand brings to light issues of caste equity and representation into sharper focus in the constituency.

Despite the differing voices, the electoral history underscores the competitive nature of the seat. In 2011, UDF candidate P.K. Jayalakshmi won by a margin exceeding 12,000 votes, defeating LDF’s K.C. Kunhiraman. However, the LDF regained the constituency in 2016 when O.R. Kelu secured a narrow victory by 1,307 votes after a closely contested campaign.

In the 2021 elections, Mr. Kelu strengthened his position, expanding his winning margin to 9,282 votes. His elevation as Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes further strengthened his image in the constituency and set the ground for a third consecutive term.

The UDF has fielded Usha Vijayan in a bid to reclaim the seat after two successive defeats. Party leaders hope that the substantial margins secured by Rahul Gandhi and later Priyanka Gandhi in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, of which Mananthavady is a part, will translate into electoral gains in the Assembly segment.

Meanwhile, the NDA is also attempting to expand its presence. In the 2021 election, its candidate Palliyara Mukundan secured 13,142 votes, and the front is now constantly working to improve the vote share. In the upcoming Assembly elections, Idukki native P. Shyam Raj is the NDA candidate. Solutions to wildlife conflicts, agrarian distress, development concerns and lack of medical facilities now top the outdoor campaigns.