Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Roller coaster politics turn election in Pathanamthitta into a thriller

As Pathanamthitta heads to the polls on Thursday, uncertainty runs deeper than the fallout from the Sabarimala gold theft or the aftershocks of recent local body elections. The larger question on everyone’s mind is whether this vote can really steady the political roller coaster that has gripped the district since 2016.

Power, as far as Pathanamthitta is concerned, has been a game of musical chairs. Over the past Assembly elections, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) have traded control, each claiming the district in turn. In 2016 the LDF stormed to victory in four of five assembly seats, later completing a clean sweep with the Konni by-election. By 2021, the coalition had tightened its grip, claiming all five seats with striking confidence.

But reading the district’s pulse from these results alone would be a mistake. The UDF has consistently outperformed the LDF in parliamentary elections during the same period. Even after setbacks in local body polls five years ago, the Congress-led coalition bounced back in the recent elections proving it has not lost its bite.

Then there is BJP, which is quietly turning up the heat. Since 2016, it has steadily expanded its footprint in the district and the Sabarimala women’s entry controversy has sharpened its edge further. What was once a bipolar contest has evolved into a three-cornered fight, with particular attention on key constituencies such as Thiruvalla and Aranmula.

The LDF is banking on its development record and hopes to replicate its 2021 sweep. Riding high on the last election’s momentum, the coalition believes it can breach UDF strongholds once again. The UDF, on the other hand, is aggressively pushing the anti-incumbency narrative. From disillusioned upper caste Hindus to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, it seeks to tap into widespread discontent, while highlighting alleged lapses in public health services and delays in development projects.

The BJP, at the same time, is no longer just a spoiler. Though its recent local body performance is considered below par, the party commands a steady vote share of around 25% in the district, which is enough to threaten both fronts. “The notion that the NDA only nibbles at UDF votes is outdated,” points out a senior LDF leader. “Last year’s Lok Sabha elections proved that the BJP is also slicing into the Left’s base,” he adds.

While the Sabarimala gold theft headlines the political debate this time, the performance of the LDF government and Health Minister Veena George, seeking a third term from Aranmula, has also come under scrutiny.

In the final stretch of campaigning, the UDF has revived the debate over whether the devastating 2018 floods were man-made, releasing an audio clip allegedly involving outgoing Electricity Minister K. Krishnan Kutty.

Allegations of corruption involving sitting LDF legislator Mathew T. Thomas, have further intensified the political atmosphere, setting the stage for a high-stakes finish ahead of polling.