LDF's slim victory in Chelakkara offers little cause for celebration; significant decline in majority

THRISSUR: While the LDF managed to retain Chelakkara during the by-elections held in two assembly constituencies, there is little reason for the front to celebrate. In the 2021 assembly elections, LDF candidate K Radhakrishnan had secured a resounding victory with a margin of 39,400 votes, amassing 83,415 votes. However, in this by-election, LDF candidate UR Pradeep received 64,259 votes, winning by a narrower margin of 12,201 votes. This marks a significant decline in the majority compared to Radhakrishnan's earlier performance.

When Radhakrishnan ran for the Lok Sabha election from Alathur, he managed to get only a slender lead of 5,000 votes from Chelakkara. Although Pradeep increased his majority from 10,200 votes in 2016, his overall vote count actually decreased. Pradeep's total votes dropped by 3,512 compared to 2016, while the party's total votes came down by a staggering 19,156 votes compared to 2021. UDF candidate Ramya Haridas of Congress got 52626 votes and K Balakrishnan of BJP got 33609 votes.

Pradeep had served as Chelakkara MLA from 2016 to 2021. He had also served as president of Deshamangalam panchayat from 2000 to 2005.
He was the President of Deshamangalam Service Co-operative Bank in 2009-2011.