Kanhangad is part of the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency and combines urban and rural areas, with diverse communities and strong trade connections. It had around 2.05 lakh registered voters in 2021.
In the last assembly election, N. A. Nellikkunnu of IUML (UDF) secured victory by defeating LDF’s CPI(M) candidate by over 3,000 votes. The constituency has seen alternating wins between UDF and LDF, reflecting a competitive political climate.