Kasaragod in 2026: BJP losing old fortress? UDF making serious inroads in district

KASARAGOD: In Kasaragod district, where LDF won three assembly constituencies and the UDF two, the fronts are set to field strong new faces this time. Manjeswaram and Kasaragod slipped from BJP's hands by a narrow margin. A three-way fight is expected in these two constituencies.

Thrikaripur, Kanhangad, and Uduma are LDF strongholds. Kasaragod and Manjeswaram belong to the Muslim League. Although the UDF considers it an achievement to have defeated the LDF in the Kasaragod and Manjeswaram constituencies in the local body elections, the fact that they lost the district panchayat is worrying.

The areas where linguistic minorities live and in panchayats that share the border with Karnataka are distancing away from CPM. The BJP is seriously examining the vote leakage in the border areas, which they considered a party fortress. UDF is making inroads in these regions. Although they won the administration of five panchayats, the drubbing received in block panchayat divisions and wards in several panchayats raised eyebrows of BJP leadership. How this will affect the assembly elections is a matter of debate.

This time, the BJP will field a surprise candidate to capture Manjeswaram, where K. Surendran lost by 89 votes in 2016 and by 855 votes in 2021. District president M.L. Ashwini is a likely candidate. It is almost certain that the UDF candidate will be fielding MLA A.K.M. Ashraf.

The BJP is also planning to field a new candidate in Kasaragod. There are indications that a strongman of the League will come instead of N.A. Nellikunnu, who has completed three terms. Although there is a move to field K.M. Shaji, the name of District President Kallatra Mahin Haji, who is very close to the Panakkad family, is actively considered.

In Uduma, CH Kunhambu will be the LDF candidate this time. There is a possibility that he will become a minister if he wins and LDF secures a third term. E. Chandrasekharan, who has completed three terms in Kanhangad, may be given retirement by the CPI. Party national committee member Advocate Govindan Pallikappil will be considered as his replacement.

It is unclear whether the CPM will offer concessions to District Secretary M Rajagopal, who has completed two consecutive terms, in Thrikaripur. The names of new faces are also under discussion. The UDF gave the Thrikaripur seat to the Kerala Congress Joseph faction last time amid much protest within the Congress party. The Muslim League is also putting pressure on Thrikaripur this time. Strongmen in the Congress will come forward for the UDF in Uduma and Kanhangad.