For some former legislators and prominent leaders who are not in the fray, it was their parties’ decision not to field them. Several others lost out to their party colleagues in the rat race. Yet most of them are in the voting arena as activists.
K. Babu, the legislator representing Thripunithura for more than three decades, stood out for his unusual decision to call it a day. Mr. Babu, a six-time legislator and former minister, hung up his boots after successfully overcoming the persuasion of his party bosses.
“I quit parliamentary politics due to health reasons. Even though I am not contesting elections, I am actively campaigning for the party candidate Deepak Joy. Apart from introducing him to the constituency, I have also attended his election conventions and constituency tours and canvassed for him. I am also involved in the implementation of the behind-the-scenes work of the campaign,” says Mr. Babu.
AN Shamseer, Speaker of the 15th Assembly, is one of the senior CPI(M) leaders who have returned to the organizational team in line with the party’s decision not to field legislators for more than two consecutive terms in certain constituency constituencies.
“The party has asked me to campaign in Thalassery, which I represented in 2016 and 2021. I have also been asked to focus on campaigns in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts. In Thalassery, I am highlighting the development activities started in previous years,” he says.
Actor Mukesh, who represented the Kollam Assembly constituency in 2016 and 2021, canceled his shooting schedule for the first week of April to campaign for CPI(M) candidate S. Jayamohan. “During the week I will make myself fully available to the party candidate. I have already completed a few election campaign meetings in the constituency,” he says.
AN Radhakrishnan is a senior BJP leader who has contested nine elections. Although not in the fray, Mr. Radhakrishnan is busy campaigning for the party as NDA President. Mr. Radhakrishnan claims that he was also involved in bringing six prominent leaders from other political parties to the BJP.
“I am coordinating the campaign with NDA cadres and attending election conventions and other meetings as a core member of the BJP committee,” he says.
Although he was denied the seat even after the groundwork was completed, former legislator Joseph Vazhakkan was named as one of the main Congress campaigners this time. He travels across the state for UDF candidates.
Mr Vazhakkan, who won the 2011 election in Muvattupuzha, has contested three other parliamentary polls. “My campaign is more focused on Idukki, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, though I have already attended election conventions and political meetings in eight assembly constituencies across the state,” he says.
Eldhose Kunnappilly, one of the two sitting Congress MLAs who failed to secure renomination, got busy campaigning in Perumbavoor constituency for the party candidate.
Rahul Mamkootathil, an MLA who was expelled from the Congress, is staying away from campaigning even as he is active on social media criticizing the LDF government and the CPI(M).
TP Sindhumol, who is reportedly nursing grouse for not being counted this time, says she is actively playing her role as an activist in charge of the Kochi constituency. Apart from three civic polls, it unsuccessfully participated in the 2021 public opinion polls.
Published – 26 March 2026 20:22 IST
