Consolidation of votes against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and the steady erosion of the political influence of the socialist bloc are among the features of recent electoral history in the Vadakara Assembly constituency. The upcoming polls will again test whether the United Democratic Front (UDF) can continue to benefit from the resulting political scenario.
Anti-CPI(M) sentiments were initially fueled by political developments within the party that eventually led to the birth of the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) led by TP Chandrasekharan in Onchiyam in 2008. The alleged involvement of CPI(M) activists in his assassination four years later worsened the situation. Although CK Nanu, as a Janata Dal (Secular) candidate, managed to win the 2016 assembly elections, KK Rema, widow of Chandrasekharan, herself polled over 20,000 votes and finished third. The final nail in the coffin was the formalization of the alliance between the RMP and the UDF in the form of ‘Janakeeya Munnani’ in the following elections. A major contributor to their electoral success was the solid support of the Indian Union Muslim League, which has areas of influence spread across the constituency.
Socialist fortress
Vadakara has been a socialist bastion in the past, with its political formations ruling local bodies in the region and senior leaders like the late K. Chandrasekharan and Mr. Nanu winning successive elections from here. Between 1960 and 2021, the constituency had only socialist MLAs. However, the successive splits and political mergers and realignments of Janata Dal offshoots have now weakened their electoral strength. In the 2021 elections, Manayath Chandran of the Lok Tantrik Janata Dal was defeated by Ms. Rema by a margin of 7,491 votes.
In the upcoming elections, the sitting MLA will be pitted against MP Bhaskaran, Rashtriya Janata Dal district president who is the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate, and K. Dileep of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Election scene
Vadakara village and grama panchayats of Azhiyur, Eramala, Chorod and Onchiyam are part of Vadakara assembly segment. In the 2025 local polls, the UDF-RMP alliance managed to retain power in Eramala and Onchiyama. RMP also elected its first representative to Kozhikode district panchayat from Azhiyur division. The party now has a councilor in Vadakara village as well. Its number in the Vadakar block panchayat increased from two to three. However, the LDF continued its rule in Vadakara and Chorod municipalities and wrested Azhiyur from its rivals. The UDF-RMP coalition is trying to win votes based on the performance of its incumbent MLA and “end the misrule of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government”. Her representatives believe that Mrs. Rema will be able to repeat and improve her electoral performance this time as well. The LDF decided to field Mr. Bhaskaran, who was earlier several times president of Eramala grama panchayat and member of Vadakara block panchayat, to check the erosion of socialist votes. The NDA, meanwhile, hopes to increase its numbers.
Published – 21 March 2026 20:27 IST
