Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Wildlife incursion, a vote-catcher issue in many constituencies

Loss of lives, crop raids, and destruction of farmlands due to human-wildlife conflicts dominate electioneering in at least one-fourth of the constituencies of Kerala that go to the polls next month. In Kozhikode, farmers have even fielded a candidate against State Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran to highlight their concerns. 

It’s the central region of the State, spread across the Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha districts, which has borne the brunt of the conflicts. It’s estimated that the issue would be a talking point in at least 20 constituencies of the region, especially in the five in Idukki. Social activists and farmers also tag at least five constituencies of Thrissur, three each of Kozhikode and Wayanad and two in Kannur districts in northern Kerala as the Assembly constituencies worst hit by human-animal conflict.

Various splinter groups of Kerala Congress, who are vocal about farmers’ plight, had organised protests to highlight the challenges faced by the local communities. The Catholic Church has also engaged actively on the matter, often aligning with the Kerala Congress parties to amplify public concern. While Jose K. Mani, the chairperson of Kerala Congress (M), which has aligned with the LDF, had raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Francis K. George, MP of Kerala Congress, a UDF constituent, had flagged the issue in the Lok Sabha, considering the electoral interests involved.

Views on draft Bill

KC(M) now positions the LDF government’s draft Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill, which permits the killing of wild animals entering residential areas and causing harm, as a major achievement. Its rival Kerala Congress faction, however, argues that existing laws already empower the State to cull dangerous animals and accuses the government of using the new Bill to mislead communities regularly affected by wildlife.

Both the Congress and the CPI(M) have made wildlife incursions a key topic in local debates, especially in constituencies such as Poonjar, Pala, and Kanjirappally. In Devikulam, Peerumade, Udumbanchola, Idukki, and Thodupuzha constituencies too, it has emerged as a major election issue. As recent as in March 24, Raja, a resident of the Kallar Factory division in Munnar, died in a wild elephant attack.

In the Devikulam constituency, wild elephant is the prime villain. Tuskers that stray onto roads and human habitations pose a major threat to both humans and vehicles. In Marayur and Kanthalloor regions, it’s the wild gaur that frequently upsets the lives of residents. Similar issues are plaguing the Kottayam-Idukki border areas of the Peerumade constituency, where elephant attacks have led to significant crop destruction and loss of life. Voters are seeking the views of candidates across all constituencies regarding conflict mitigation plans.

Farming unviable

Crop raids by elephants, wild boars, monkeys and giant squirrels have made agriculture increasingly unviable in areas from Elanad and Erumapetty to Peechi and Palappetty regions of Thrissur. The resultant economic crisis has forced farmers to support only those who offer concrete solutions to the crisis. “Monkeys have made our lives miserable. We can’t even cook in peace,” said T. A. Rajesh, a farmer in Elanad. Sopna Kallingal, an award-winning farmer from Pattikkad, says a huge chunk of farm produce is eaten away by wild animals.

In Kozhikode, irate farmers have fielded their representative Sumin S. Nedungadan in the Elathur constituency to take on Mr. Saseendran. Various farmer groups from Kozhikode and Wayanad districts have decided to campaign for their candidate in the constituency. “The decision to field the candidate is part of the protest of the farmers,” said Mr. Nedungadan.

The farmers also complain about the reported delayed payment of compensation and the incomplete voluntary resettlement scheme for landowners living in the forest fringes. The issue could influence the voter response in two constituencies of Kannur, especially Peravur, which covers the high-impact regions of Aralam, Kelakam, Kanichar, and Ayyankunnu areas.

LDF candidate K.K. Shailaja asserted that the government has initiated multiple mitigation measures, including making provisions for food and water for animals and protective measures like solar fencing, trenching, and deployment of rapid response teams to support the residents. Sitting MLA and the UDF candidate Sunny Joseph said the government failed to act to protect the interests of farmers. The UDF has promised time-bound and enhanced compensation, scientific wildlife management schemes, and stronger response systems linking the issue to wider rural distress, he said.