Sandeep Varier scores surprise victory in Thrikkarippur

THRIKKARIPPUR: Sandeep Varier, who left the BJP and joined the Congress, has secured a surprise victory in the Thrikkarippur constituency. He defeated CPM candidate V.P.P. Musthafa by a narrow margin of 394 votes. This marks the first time a UDF candidate has won in Thrikkarippur since the constituency was formed.

A native of Malappuram, Varier joined the Congress in 2024 after quitting the BJP. He is currently serving as a KPCC general secretary. In the previous election, the seat was contested by the Kerala Congress. This time, as part of seat-sharing, the Congress reclaimed Thrikkarippur while allocating Kanhangad to the Kerala Congress.

Several Congress leaders, including DCC president P.K. Faisal and Youth Congress state general secretary Jomon Jose, had staked claim to the seat. Balakrishnan Periya was also in the race. However, the party ultimately chose Varier as its candidate. Varier had resigned from the BJP in 2024, alleging that he had been sidelined during the Palakkad by-election.