Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Political crossovers gather pace in Kerala as Assembly elections near

The decision of senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader G. Sudhakaran, a former Minister and four-time MLA, to sever his 63-year association with the party and contest as an Independent from the Ambalappuzha Assembly constituency has reignited debate over the changing nature of political loyalties in Kerala.

The significance of the episode lies not merely in the exit of a veteran leader who was at odds with sections of the party leadership, especially at the local and district levels, but in the broader pattern it reflects. With the April 9, 2026 Assembly elections approaching, defections and cross-affiliations have gathered pace, blurring the traditional ideological boundaries between the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Increasingly, electoral pragmatism rather than ideological loyalty appears to be shaping political choices.

Mr. Sudhakaran’s move, which is now certain to receive backing from the UDF, is part of a broader churn that has unfolded in recent months. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan had earlier hinted at a political “vismayam” (astonishment), fuelling speculation about possible defections from the Left. That speculation partly materialised when CPI(M) leaders P.K. Sasi and A. Suresh severed ties with the party and are expected to contest as UDF-backed Independents in Ottappalam and Malampuzha, respectively.

On Monday (March 16, 2026), C.C. Mukundan, the sitting MLA of Nattika who was elected on a Communist Party of India (CPI) ticket, joined the BJP after the UDF denied him a seat. His switch followed weeks of political turmoil triggered by his expulsion from the CPI after he raised “payment seat” allegation against the party’ decision to field Geetha Gopi in the Assembly segment for the upcoming polls.

Later in the day, in its stronghold of Kannur, CPI(M) leader and district secretariat member T.K. Govindan openly revolted against the party leadership. Reports indicate that he is preparing to contest as an Independent candidate from the Thaliparambu constituency against P.K. Shyamala, the party’s official nominee and wife of CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan.

In January, former CPI(M) MLA P. Aisha Potty, who represented Kottarakara thrice, crossed over to the Congress and is expected to contest from the same constituency on a UDF ticket. Former CPI(M) MLA S. Rajendran, who represented Devikulam for three consecutive terms, joined the BJP earlier this year.

Blurring lines

The shifts have not been confined to the Left, further illustrating the fluidity of alliances and blurring lines. In February, R. Resmi, a Mahila Congress leader and the UDF’s 2021 candidate from Kottarakara, joined the BJP, citing disillusionment with the Congress.

In recent days, defections have gathered momentum. Former CPI leader and two-time Vaikom MLA K. Ajith joined the saffron fold. 

Meanwhile, Congress leader Babu Divakaran, who quit the party after being overlooked for the Adoor constituency, is now set to contest from Kunnathunadu as an NDA candidate. Thodiyoor Ramachandran, a Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee secretary, joined the BJP on Monday, signalling that more political realignments could unfold in the coming days.

Earlier changes had already hinted at this churn. Former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar distanced himself from the LDF, while C.K. Janu’s Janadhipathya Rashtriya Sabha parted ways with the NDA. Both eventually aligned with the UDF as associate members.

Shifting loyalties are not entirely new to Kerala politics. In 2024, Sandeep Varrier, a prominent BJP youth leader, defected to the Congress. Around the same time, P. Sarin, a former Congress digital media cell convener, was expelled from the party and later aligned with the CPI(M).

For the BJP, in particular, these defections form part of a broader strategy to expand its political footprint in a State where it has historically struggled to break the bipolar dominance of the UDF and the LDF.

The LDF, on the other hand, has seen relatively fewer direct defections to rival fronts until recently, though signs of internal dissent have surfaced in some constituencies. The UDF, meanwhile, believes that crossovers from other parties could improve its electoral prospects.

However, these shifts suggest that the upcoming Assembly elections may witness more complex and unpredictable contests than in the past.