Devikulam, a constituency in the hilly Idukki district that houses the tourist hub of Munnar, is witnessing a ‘Battle of the Rajas’ where voters will decide which ‘Raja’ will be crowned on May 4 when the assembly election results are announced.
Three candidates with “Raja” in their names are in the fray: United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate F. Raja, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate A. Raja and S. Rajendran of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Local voters must pay extra attention to identifying their preferred candidate, given the similarity of names.
All three fronts fielded three Tamil-speaking candidates who represent a significant population of marginal Tamil voters in the region. Unlike other constituencies in the state, campaign materials and posters in Devikulam are almost exclusively in Tamil. Campaign announcements are often paired with old Tamil film songs to resonate with the local community.
Historically, the seat has moved between the UDF and the LDF, with the NDA maintaining a minimal presence in the plantation sector. However, the political scene changed dramatically after S. Rajendran, a three-time MLA and senior CPI(M) leader, defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to contest as an NDA candidate.
Senthil Kumar M., a political observer, said Mr. Rajendran’s entry had disrupted the traditional dynamic. “Rajendran will be an influential factor. His deep rapport with plantation workers and his experience as a three-time MLA are significant advantages. However, the LDF maintains deep roots in Devikulam and the incumbent MLA, A. Raja is a people-friendly candidate and UDF’s F. Raja benefits from being from an established political family. For these reasons, this election will be triangular,” noted Kumar.
CPI(M) veteran MM Mani expressed confidence in an LDF victory. “The Rajendran factor will not affect Raj’s chances. The party gave him many opportunities but he wanted to remain an MLA indefinitely, which the party opposed. People are seeing the real picture,” Mr. Mani said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Ibrahimkutty Kallar argued that the local body election results are a clear indicator that the UDF will win back the seat.
The issues remain unresolved
Despite the political maneuver, residents say their main problems remain unresolved. The 65-year-old man, who runs a tea shop on the Munnar-Vattavada route in Yellappetty, said that despite being retired, he still lives in a ‘layam’ (row house). “We have chosen both sides over the years, but our lives have not changed. Owning a house and land is still a distant dream,” he said. But he praises Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for being a “good administrator”.
Local youth also highlighted the ongoing problems, including hours-long traffic jams, lack of a proper hospital and limited higher education options in Munnar.
Published – 04 Apr 2026 19:46 IST
