Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Battle lines drawn for Assembly polls in Kozhikode, UDF declares candidates

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has declared its candidates in Kozhikode district for the Assembly polls scheduled for April 9. With this, the lineup for the poll battle is almost ready, and the campaigning is expected to pick up pace in the coming days.

One of the notable absences this time is that of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) veteran M.K. Muneer, incumbent MLA for Koduvally. While the list of Congress nominees was released from New Delhi, those of the IUML were announced by the party supremo Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at Malappuram.

Navya Haridas, NDA candidate from Kozhikode North, campaigning at Malaparamba in Kozhikode city.
| Photo Credit:
K. Ragesh

The Congress candidates are K. Jayanth (Kozhikode North), K. Praveenkumar (Koyilandy), K.M. Abhijith (Nadapuram), Vidya Balakrishnan (Elathur) and V.T. Sooraj (Balussery). The IUML nominees are Parakkal Abdulla (Kuttiyadi), Fathima Thahiliya (Perambra), P.K. Firos (Koduvally), C.K. Kasim (Thiruvambady), Faisal Babu (Kozhikode South) and M.A. Razak (Kunnamangalam).

In Beypore, the UDF is supporting former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar, who is all set to seek a mandate as an Independent candidate. Revolutionary Marxist Party leader and incumbent MLA K.K. Rema will contest as a UDF-backed candidate from Vadakara. The UDF candidates have planned roadshows on Wednesday (March 18) to kickstart their campaigning. Muslim Youth League president Panakkad Syed Munavvarali Shihab Thangal and Shafi Parambil, MP, will participate in the roadshow to be conducted by Mr. Praveenkumar in Kozhikode city.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is fielding Sunny Thomas of the Twenty20 as its candidate from Thiruvambady. He is a former functionary of the Nationalist Congress Party. Some of the NDA candidates are also taking roadshows in the city.

LDF list incomplete

However, the LDF is yet to finalise its nominees in Koduvally, where the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is reportedly searching for an Independent, and Vadakara, which has been allotted to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). According to reports, M.K. Bhaskaran is likely to be a contender for the seat.