Kerala Assembly Polls 2026: 890 candidates in fray for April 9 election

Thiruvananthapuram: Ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections 2026 scheduled for April 9, a total of 890 candidates from various political parties will contest for the mandate of over 2.7 crore registered voters in Kerala, according to the latest figures released by the Election Commission of India.

The ECI stated that out of 2,125 nominations received, 890 candidates remain in the fray after the scrutiny process and withdrawal of candidature by others on Thursday. In comparison, the 2021 Assembly polls in Kerala had seen 957 candidates contesting.

Key constituencies and voter demographics

Koduvally constituency in Kozhikode district has emerged as the most contested seat, with 13 candidates vying for victory.

According to the ECI, Kerala has a total electorate of 2,71,42,952 voters, including overseas voters, who will cast their votes at 30,471 polling stations across the state. Of the total voters, 1,38,84,001 are women, and 1,30,16,593 are men. The 40-49 age group accounts for the highest number of voters, totalling 56,32,036.

The data also highlights inclusivity, with 273 third-gender voters and 2,44,927 voters with disabilities registered across Kerala.

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District-wise voter distribution

Malappuram district has the largest electorate with 36,32,210 voters, while Wayanad has the smallest with 6,43,625 voters. The state also has 53,984 service voters eligible to participate in the elections.

The upcoming Kerala Assembly elections are set to witness a high-stakes contest as parties intensify campaigning across constituencies, aiming to secure the support of the diverse voter base in the state.

PTI