Kerala election 2026: Is the ‘legacy’ shield cracking?

By- Krishna Kumar

KOCHI: As the counting for the 140-member Kerala Assembly enters its middle phase, a massive UDF wave is not just sweeping the state but is systematically dismantling long-held political legacies. With the UDF leading in 96 seats, the LDF at 41, and the NDA showing strength in two, the message from the electorate seems to be a rejection of both incumbency and established family bastions.

The most striking example of "legacy burst" is in Pathanapuram, where K B Ganesh Kumar, a five-term veteran and son of the late R Balakrishna Pillai, is currently trailing. Long considered invincible in his family’s pocket borough, Ganesh Kumar’s struggle symbolizes a shift away from personality-driven politics.



Similarly, the Kerala Congress (M), led by Jose K Mani, is facing a potential wipeout. Trailing in almost every seat it contested, the party’s gamble to remain with the LDF appears to have alienated its traditional base, raising questions about the future of the "Mani legacy" in Central Travancore.

However, Chandy Ommen enjoys a major lead of over 20, 000 in Puthuppally constituency.

Meanwhile, the UDF's surge has breached the LDF’s most sacred "red fortresses." In Mattannur, Congress’s Chandran Thillankeri has snatched the lead from CPM’s V K Sanoj, while the UDF is also leading in strong CPM constituencies like Payyannur and Taliparamba.

In Dharmadam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan continues to trail V P Abdul Rasheed, though the margin has tightened to approximately 1,090 votes. Rasheed, stunned by the trend, described the lead against the CM as a "miracle."


While the UDF leads, several "star" battles remain too close to call. A fierce two-way fight sees the NDA’s Shobha Surendran and UDF’s Ramesh Pisharody locked in a battle of inches. In Vattiyoorkavu, K Muraleedharan (UDF) and V K Prasanth (LDF) are exchanging the lead with every round.

In Nemom, Rajeev Chandrasekhar remains ahead as the vote counting entered the final phase.

If these trends hold, the 2026 mandate will be remembered as the year Kerala looked past historic names and "fortress" labels in favour of a resounding call for change.

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