Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Parties go all out in Kottayam

With just a couple of days left for the polling to the Assembly elections, election fever has reached its zenith in Kottayam district. After a brief lull following the holy week, the political engines in Kottayam have roared back to life. Campaign teams, party vans and loudspeakers are now criss-crossing all nine constituencies, turning the district into a veritable battlefield of promises, slogans and voter outreach.

As the final leg of campaigning unfolds, the three major fronts are all going all out to secure votes. In 2021, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had bagged five seats, leaving the United Democratic Front (UDF) with four. This time, both alliances are aiming to expand their hold, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is making all efforts to make a breakthrough in a district that has long eluded them.

The UDF is playing its strongest hand in Puthuppally, Kaduthuruthy and Kottayam, seats it considers to be safe. However, the focus is squarely on battlegrounds constituencies like Pala, Poonjar, Ettumanoor, and Changanassery. The coalition is counting on a unified minority vote, as witnessed during the recent local body results , a simmering anti-Sangh Parivar sentiment over the FCRA amendment bill and the anti-incumbency sentiment against the outgoing Left government to work in its favour. “Central Travancore, especially Kottayam, is the key to power in Kerala. We have to snatch at least six out of nine seats here to keep our dream alive,” said a senior UDF leader, exuding confidence.

The LDF, meanwhile, is banking on its alliance with the Kerala Congress (M) to hold crucial ground while keeping Vaikom firmly in its grip. Some leaders admit privately that Puthuppally could be a tough nut to crack, but the front is eyeing five to seven seats this time around.“The Kerala Congress (M)’s decisive stand on key issues has swung both Catholic and Muslim support our way. Riding this momentum, we aim to maintain the tally we secured last time,” said a top LDF strategist in Kottayam.

For the NDA, the stakes are even higher in the plantation belt, especially Pala, Poonjar and Kanjirappally. The BJP has fielded three of its most formidable candidates, testing whether its Christian outreach strategy can finally yield results. “Across these seats, we currently command a vote share of around 30,000. Our goal is to push this to 50,000 in at least one constituency,” said a BJP leader.