Kunnamangalam gears up for another spirited contest

Kunnamangalam Assembly constituency stood out in the 2021 elections for recording the highest voter turnout in Kozhikode, with 81.55 % of its electorate turning up at the polling booths. The vibrant participation, cutting across age and social group, reflected a high level of political awareness, turning the segment into one of the most keenly watched electorates in north Kerala.

The democratic fervour was also echoed in the outcome, with LDF-backed independent P.T.A. Rahim secured a third consecutive term. He polled 85,138 votes to beat UDF-backed Dinesh Perumanna, who secured 74,862 votes after a spirited contest. The NDA candidate V.K. Sajeevan finished third with 27,672 votes. Despite the decisive hat-trick, the fall in the margin compared to previous elections underlined the electorate’s enduring competitiveness.

The segment, in fact, witnessed closely fought contests over the past one-and-a-half decade. Mr. Rahim, who wrested the seat in 2011 from U.C. Raman retained it in 2016 with a slender margin of 3269 votes. In 2021, his victory margin stood at 10,276 votes. It was slightly lower than the 11,205 votes he secured in 2016. Also, it indicated the continuing challenge posed by the rival fronts.

In the upcoming election, Mr. Rahim is seeking a fourth consecutive term, making the contest significant for the LDF. The UDF has fielded M.A. Razak of the IUML, while the BJP has once again nominated Mr. Sajeevan as NDA candidate, setting the stage for another challenging innings.

The electorate is spread across Kunnamangalam, Chathamangalam, Olavanna, Peruvayal, Perumanna and Mavoor grama panchayats, forming a diverse socio-political landscape comprising agrarian communities, labour groups, and a sizeable population association with higher educational and research institutions. Many feel that this composition has given a distinct developmental orientation to the electoral debates in the constituency.

In 2021, a total of 1,92, 958 votes were polled with the UDF candidate maintaining an early lead before the incumbent made the leap. The electorate’s high turnout-comparable to the over 81% recorded in the 2011 and 2016 elections-has often made outcomes difficult to predict and kept all major fronts on guard.

LDF campaigners believe that the hat-trick victory of Mr. Rahim in the constituency is the reward of excellence. At the same time, the rivals bank on the list of unaccomplished promises made during the previous elections. Long pending proposals, including the utilisation of the Gwalior Rayons land and projects for addressing water scarcity, agricultural stagnation and developmental issues related to Kunnamangalam town are now being highlighted by the rival fronts to win the voters.

Once a stronghold of IUML, the constituency underwent a shift following the 2008 delimitation, which altered its demographic and political profile according to the UDF campaigners. Since then, both the LDF and UDF have relied on targeted strategies and local outreach to consolidate support. For the BJP, the fight still continues to improve the total vote percentage.