2021 battles reborn in 2026: Deja Vu election in 16 constituencies of Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the major political fronts having finalised their candidate lists, election campaigning has entered its peak phase. With only 17 days remaining before the state goes to the polls, the LDF aims to retain power while the UDF fights to regain it, and the BJP seeks to expand its footprint in several triangular contests. Interestingly, this election sees a significant "repeat match" from five years ago.

In 16 constituencies, the exact same lead candidates who faced off in 2021 are clashing again. This group includes those who lost by razor-thin margins and those seeking to avenge unexpected defeats. While the challengers hope to reclaim lost ground, sitting MLAs are focused on widening their previous leads.

The battle begins at the state's northern tip in Manjeswaram, where AKM Ashraf (IUML) and K. Surendran (BJP) meet again; Ashraf won by a mere 745 votes last time. In Sulthan Bathery, sitting MLA I.C. Balakrishnan faces M.S. Viswanathan (CPM) once more. Similarly, in Kuttiadi, Parakkal Abdulla and sitting MLA K.P. Kunhammed Kutti are locked in a rematch of their 2021 fight, which was decided by only 333 votes.

All eyes are also on Thrithala, where the high-profile rivalry between Congress’s V.T. Balram and Minister M.B. Rajesh continues. In Malampuzha, the 2021 contest between A. Prabhakaran (CPM) and C. Krishnakumar (BJP) are also being repeated.

Other notable rematches include:

• Irinjalakuda: Minister R. Bindu vs. Thomas Unniyadan.
• Kalamassery: Minister P. Rajeev vs. Abdul Gafoor.
• Pala: Jose K. Mani vs. Mani C. Kappan.
• Kottayam: Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan vs. K. Anil Kumar.
• Kunnathunadu: P.V. Sreenijan vs. V.P. Sajeendran.

This trend of "Round 2" encounters also extends to Poonjar, Aroor, Chavara, Pathanapuram, and Chadayamangalam, making the 2026 assembly election a true test of whether the voters' sentiments have shifted over the last five years.