Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Repeat contest in Kothamangalam as Antony takes on Shibu again

Kothamangalam is among the Assembly constituencies that contests the largely rightful claim of the United Democratic Front (UDF) that Ernakulam district remains its strong fort despite setbacks elsewhere in the State.

The agrarian constituency has been represented by a CPI(M) MLA, Antony John, since 2016. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), trying all possible cards to win a third term in the State, has again fielded him in the constituency.

Mr. John is seeking a hat-trick win, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has once again fielded Kerala Congress’ Shibu Thekkumpuram, five years after he tasted defeat from the LDF. Aji Narayanan of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) is the candidate of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Mr. John changed the political colour of Kothamangalam in 2016 defeating Kerala Congress(M) veteran T.U. Kuruvilla. The decisive mandate with a winning margin of 19,282 votes was widely seen as a reflection of the State-wide anti-incumbency wave against then UDF government led by Oommen Chandy. Mr. John could retain the seat in 2021 though his victory margin came down to 6,605 votes, despite having the KC(M), led by Jose K. Mani, in the Left fold. Mr. Thekkumpuram entered the electoral scene on Kerala Congress ticket led by P.J. Joseph.

Its for the second time that Mr. John and Mr. Thekkumpuram are coming face to face in the constituency.

A key change in the electoral fray this time is the expansion of the NDA by accommodating Twenty20 in its fold. The Kitex-backed party’s candidate Dr. Joe Joseph had polled 7,978 votes in 2021, higher than the BDJS’ 4,638. The two parties had together polled close to 10% of votes last time though it is nowhere close to the vote share of the winner and the runner-up — 47.1% and 42.3%, respectively.

The LDF is banking on Mr. John’s popularity and the “infrastructure development” in the constituency, while the UDF pins hopes on Mr. Thekkumpuram’s perseverance. The Kerala Congress leader has been keen to establish his foothold in the constituency in the past five years despite the loss in 2021. The UDF hopes Mr. Thekkumpuram’s interventions in local issues coupled with the perceived anti-incumbency sentiments against the LDF in the State would turn the fortune in its favour this time.

While the increasing instances of human-wildlife conflict, along with farmers’ issues, have emerged as key issues in the constituency, the stand of various Church groups, especially the Jacobite Syrian Christian denomination, could be a decisive factor in the polls. Members of the Jacobite Church who feel it has been denied justice with the 2017 Supreme Court verdict on the Malankara Church dispute are widely perceived as closer to the Left front. They constitute over 20% of the electorate.

Kothamangalam has mostly been an UDF bastion, with the Congress’ V.J. Paulose winning a hat-trick, beginning from 1991. Candidates from different factions of the Kerala Congress represented the region eight times, beginning from 1965 when the constituency was formed, while the CPI(M) won the seat in 1967.