The result marks a sharp drop from the 2021 assembly elections, when Pinarayi won by a convincing margin of 50,123 votes. The current majority is barely a third of that number, signaling a significant erosion of support in what was a CPI(M) stronghold.
Updated – 06 May 2026 12:11 IST – KANNUR
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan leaves the Thiruvananthapuram airport after arriving in the capital from his hometown Kannur on Tuesday. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
A constituency long considered a safe bastion where victory was certain even before counting began, Dharmadam witnessed an unprecedented electoral shake-up as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan saw his once formidable majority plummet amid a strong surge by the United Democratic Front (UDF).
Riding what observers described as the UDF wave, Youth Congress general secretary Vice President Abdul Rasheed issued a tough challenge to the Left “captain”, unsettling the CPI(M) citadel and sending shockwaves across Kerala’s political landscape.
Counting trends initially indicated a dramatic disruption. In the first round itself, Mr. Rasheed got a lead of 733 votes over the Chief Minister. His lead widened to 2,523 votes in the second round and further to 3,100 votes in the third. Mr. Vijayan continued to trail by 2,212 votes in the fourth round and 1,090 votes in the fifth round. The momentum continued till the sixth round where Mr. Rasheed maintained his lead of 647 votes.
Hindus
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