Kerala Assembly polls 2026: In Kunnathunadu, motorcycle rallies and promises raise the poll pitch

Kolencherry town, part of the Kunnathunadu Assembly constituency in Ernakulam district, was virtually taken over by a horde of motorcycles on Monday (April 6, 2026) afternoon as the thrum of engines, audible from afar, built into a layered roar on approaching closer.

With only hours left before the close of public campaigning on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) evening, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate P.V. Sreenijin led a rally, braving the searing heat atop an open vehicle, with supporters astride motorcycles in tow, waving party flags. The rally, which lasted over four hours and covered all eight panchayats in the constituency, culminated at Pattimattom later in the evening.

In a constituency witnessing a keenly fought three-cornered contest among the LDF, United Democratic Front (UDF), and Twenty20, the sitting MLA was clearly in no mood to take chances. He joined the rally after spending the morning visiting households, including settlements in Mazhuvannoor. While confident of retaining the seat, Mr. Sreenijin refrained from hazarding a guess on the victory margin.

“Though the UDF accuses the LDF of striking a ‘deal’ with the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP], here in the Puthencruz-Vadavucode panchayat it is the UDF that has grabbed power with the support of Twenty20, a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). That has antagonised the UDF’s minority support base and will ultimately benefit us,” he said.

UDF’s V.P. Sajeendran meeting voters at Kunnathunadu. 
| Photo Credit:
H. VIBHU

However, UDF candidate V.P. Sajeendran, who began his campaign for the day from Pazhamthottam in Aikkaranadu panchayat, dismissed the claim as wishful thinking. He expressed confidence of staging a comeback after being defeated by Mr. Sreenijin in the last election, following two successive terms since 2011. To underscore the UDF’s solidarity with minorities, he launched his campaign near a mosque in Pazhamthottam, where party workers clad in white khadi and tricolour caps turned up in large numbers.

“In fact, the alliance between Twenty20 and the BJP will only consolidate minority support behind the UDF. I am fully confident of victory; one only needs to speak to the electorate to understand the basis of my confidence,” said Mr. Sajeendran, who has remained active in the constituency over the past five years despite his defeat.

NDA’s Babu Divakaran during his campaign.   
| Photo Credit:
H.VIBHU

Twenty20 candidate Babu Divakaran, who launched his vehicle campaign in Kizhakkambalam panchayat, said he was buoyed by the announcement of a ₹5,000-crore package for the constituency at an election convention attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (April 5, 2026). The party has left no stone unturned in publicising the package as the largest declared for any constituency in this election.

A small section of Twenty20 supporters may have initially been circumspect about the alliance with the BJP, having fallen prey to communal propaganda by rival fronts. But as the campaign nears its close, even they are convinced that the alliance rests on the bedrock of development. All BJP-affiliated outfits, right from Balagokulam onwards, have been putting in solid work. We are confident of securing more than 50% of the votes polled in this election,” Mr. Divakaran said. He added that his past association with the Congress, he was formerly chairman of Adoor municipality, may help him garner some Congress votes.