Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Devikulam, a former double-member constituency, has a unique history

As Kerala is all set for another Assembly election, Devikulam, a key constituency in Idukki district, stands out for its unique history as one of Kerala’s former double-member constituencies. Notably, Rosamma Punnoose, the first Pro-tem Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, was elected from here and administered the oath of office to all members of the first Assembly after the State’s formation.

According to historical records, during the first Assembly elections of 1957, Devikulam was one of the few double-member constituencies. In his book Desham, Charithram, Samskaram, historian Manoj Mathirappally notes that in the 1957 election, Communist Party of India (CPI) member Rosamma Punnoose and Congress member N. Ganapathi were elected to the Assembly with 33,809 and 31,887 votes respectively.

Following a legal challenge filed by Congress candidate B.K. Nayar over the rejection of his nomination papers, Devikulam witnessed the State’s first-ever byelection. Rosamma Punnoose was re-elected in 1958. “The double-member constituencies continued till 1965. That year, three other constituencies were added to the district, and Devikulam was converted into a single-member constituency,” the book states.

In the double-member constituencies, voters elected one member from the Scheduled Castes (SC) category and another from the general category. There were 12 such constituencies in the State where parties fielded candidates for both seats. Rosamma Punnoose remains the only woman ever elected from Devikulam since 1957.

Tamil legacy

Writer and journalist M.J. Babu noted that Devikulam had always reflected its Tamil legacy. “Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader M.G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, visited Devikulam twice for election campaigns. Even the legendary musician Ilaiyaraaja visited Munnar to campaign for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the 1958 byelection. Mr. Raja and his brother campaigned through their songs in the streets. In response, the Congress party arranged for a singer from Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu to campaign through songs for them. The former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi also arrived in Munnar for a byelection campaign in Devikulam. Left leaders from Tamil Nadu regularly arrive in Munnar to support LDF candidates in every election,” said Mr. Babu.

Since 1957, Devikulam has largely favoured the LDF. Out of 14 elections, LDF candidates have secured victory in nine, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) won five times. Notably, the UDF has failed to register victory in the past 20 years.

Ex-MLA’s shift to BJP

However, the political landscape has taken an unprecedented turn this cycle. In a move that surprised many, former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and three-time MLA S. Rajendran joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following months of speculation, Mr. Rajendran was officially named the BJP candidate for Devikulam. As a veteran plantation leader with deep roots among workers, his influence is seen as a major asset for the saffron party.

While the BJP traditionally had limited presence in Idukki’s plantation sector, the party expects Mr. Rajendran’s entry to help it establish a foothold in the constituency. His transition from the Left to the BJP has turned the contest into a high-stakes triangular battle.

The Devikulam constituency is seeing a unique contest this year with three Rajas in the fray. The LDF has fielded sitting MLA A. Raja, the UDF F. Raja, and the NDA Mr. Rajendran.