After the scrutiny of nominations, the battle lines in Kottayam are now sharply drawn as political fronts shift gears and launch an all-out push to dominate the campaign trail across constituencies.
In the 2021 assembly elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) won five of the nine constituencies in the district, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) won the remaining four. This time, both the alliances are trying to increase their numbers even as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hopes to open its account. As part of the second phase of the campaign, all three fronts will start holding public meetings across the district this week.
The LDF campaign will gain momentum with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s visit to Kottayam on Wednesday. He is scheduled to address public meetings in four constituencies and highlight the developmental and social initiatives undertaken by the government in the last decade. The first meeting will be held at 11:00 AM in Kanjirapally, followed by meetings at 4:00 PM in Perunna, 5:00 PM in Ettumanoor and 6:00 PM in Pala.
LDF candidates in Kottayam, Pala, Changanassery, Kanjirapappally, Poonjar and Kaduthuruthy will begin their constituency tour on Friday, while candidates in Ettumanur and Puthuppally will begin it on Saturday.
“Booth level meetings and house visits are going on across the constituencies. This time the LDF expects to win at least seven seats in Kottayam,” said a Kerala Congress (M) leader.
Meanwhile, the UDF leadership has completed the first round of campaign activities in all the constituencies. “In the second phase, cross-constituency teamwork will begin. Public meetings will also be organized at several places. Leaders including KC Venugopal, VD Satheesan, Sunny Joseph and others will arrive in Kottayam soon to intensify the campaign,” said Philson Mathew, UDF district convener.
Meanwhile, the NDA is trying to make a major inroad in the eastern parts of the district by fielding prominent candidates in Kanjirapally, Poonjar and Pala. The alliance election conventions at the constituency level are underway and are expected to be concluded within a few days. BDJS president Thushar Vellappally will inaugurate NDA candidate P. Anilkumar’s election rally in Kottayam on Wednesday.
“Candidates will begin their second phase of campaigning this week with constituency tours. At the same time, NDA workers will conduct team work and home visits,” said an NDA leader.
Published – 24 March 2026 19:37 IST
