Mood of the State survey: What voters think of their MLAs in these 35 important constituencies

As Kerala gears up for its 2026 Assembly elections, a new Mathrubhumi-CORE survey sheds light on the factors likely to influence the state’s political landscape.

The survey, which drew on 28,432 respondents across Kerala, focused on the so-called “MLA Factor” – the way voters rate the performance of their local legislators – a key element expected to shape the election outcome.

On day three of the four-day survey, we assessed the performance of sitting MLAs in 35 constituencies across Kerala.

Using a 100-point scale, the survey categorises MLAs’ ratings from “excellent” (above 90) to “very poor” (below 20). The findings provide an early snapshot of seat projections and the performance scores of incumbents across the constituencies surveyed.

Northern Kerala: Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kozhikode

• Kanhangad: The LDF holds a commanding 21.45% lead (LDF 54.9% vs. UDF 33.45%), with the BJP at 11.65%. MLA E Chandrasekharan (LDF) received a performance score of 68.74.
• Payyannur: The LDF maintains one of its strongest leads in the state at 31.53% (LDF 63.55% vs. UDF 32.02%). MLA TI Madhusoodanan (LDF) recorded a score of 65.17.
• Azhikode: The LDF leads by 6.5% (LDF 48.75% vs. UDF 42.25%), with the BJP at 9%. MLA KV Sumesh (LDF) holds a high performance score of 77.6.
• Kannur: The survey projects a 7.75% UDF lead (UDF 49.65% vs. LDF 41.9%). MLA Kadannappalli Ramachandran (LDF) received a score of 61.44.
• Peravoor: The UDF holds a 7.46% lead (UDF 48.03% vs. LDF 40.57%), with the BJP at 11.4%. MLA Sunny Joseph (UDF) recorded a performance score of 69.9.
• Kalpetta: The UDF is projected to lead by 7.92% (UDF 48.02% vs. LDF 40.1%). MLA T Siddique (UDF) received a score of 64.9.
• Kuttiady: The LDF leads by 2.98% (LDF 48.25% vs. UDF 45.27%). MLA KP Kunhammad Kutty (LDF) received a performance score of 70.65
• Quilandy (Koyilandy): The survey projects a 4.99% UDF lead (UDF 46.58% vs. LDF 41.59%). MLA Kanathil Jameela (LDF) holds a score of 71.8.
• Beypore: The LDF maintains a strong 21.03% advantage (LDF 55.59% vs. UDF 34.56%). MLA and Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas (LDF) received a high score of 76.43.

Malappuram and Palakkad region

• Manjeri: The UDF holds a 16.42% lead (UDF 56.21% vs. LDF 39.79%). MLA UA Latheef (UDF) received a score of 58.7.
• Mankada: The UDF leads by 16.08% (UDF 55.24% vs. LDF 39.16%). MLA Manjalamkuzhi Ali (UDF) recorded a performance score of 67.87.
• Malappuram: The UDF holds a massive 28.9% lead (UDF 62.4% vs. LDF 33.5%). Siting MLA P Ubaidulla (UDF) received a score of 69.2.
• Ponnani: The LDF leads by 6.64% (LDF 49.39% vs. UDF 42.75%). MLA P Nandakumar (LDF) recorded a score of 61.65.
• Thrithala: This seat is a “Tight Fight” with a narrow 2.49% LDF lead (LDF 45.51% vs. UDF 43.01%). MLA and Minister MB Rajesh (LDF) received a performance score of 66.03.
• Pattambi: The LDF leads by 11.37% (LDF 52.49% vs. UDF 41.12%). MLA Muhammed Muhassin (LDF) holds a high score of 76.48.
• Shornur: The LDF holds an 18.77% lead (LDF 49.88% vs. UDF 31.11%), while the BJP secures 19.01%. MLA P Mammikutty (LDF) recorded a score of 64.04.
• Palakkad: The UDF leads by 5.03% (UDF 39.88% vs. LDF 25.27%), with the BJP polling strongly at 34.85%. MLA Rahul Mamkootathil received a score of 54.73.
• Alathur: The LDF leads by 17.41% (LDF 51.12% vs. UDF 33.71%). MLA KD Prasenan (LDF) recorded a performance score of 68.38.

Central Kerala: Thrissur and Ernakulam

• Nattika: The LDF holds a 19.72% lead (LDF 50.23% vs. UDF 30.51%), with the BJP at 19.26%. MLA CC Mukundan (LDF) received a score of 58.21.
• Puthukkad: The LDF leads by 14.77% (LDF 47.78% vs. UDF 33.01%), with the BJP at 19.21%. MLA KK Ramachandran (LDF) recorded a score of 70.24.
• Kodungallur: The LDF leads by 8.89% (LDF 46.12% vs. UDF 37.23%). MLA VR Sunilkumar (LDF) received a score of 64.15.
• Wadakkanchery: The LDF holds an 11.52% advantage (LDF 50.68% vs. UDF 39.16%). MLA Xavier Chittilappilly (LDF) recorded a score of 73.34.
• Kalamassery: The LDF leads by 3.47% (LDF 48.06% vs. UDF 44.59%). Sitting MLA and Minister P Rajeeve (LDF) received a score of 66.24.
• Paravur: The UDF holds a 13.53% lead (UDF 51.84% vs. LDF 38.31%). MLA and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan (UDF) recorded a performance score of 70.
• Ernakulam: The UDF leads by 14.35% (UDF 51.56% vs. LDF 37.21%). MLA TJ Vinod (UDF) received a score of 63.93.
• Kochi: The LDF leads by 4.9% (LDF 49.51% vs. UDF 44.61%). Sitting MLA KJ Maxi (LDF) received a score of 69.07.

Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram

• Devikulam: The LDF leads by 8.75% (LDF 48.71% vs. UDF 39.96%). MLA A Raja (LDF) received a score of 64.23.
• Pala: The UDF holds a 5.37% lead (UDF 43.61% vs. LDF 38.24%), with the BJP at 18.15%. MLA Mani C. Kappan recorded a score of 67.78.
• Ettumanoor: The LDF leads by 3.52% (LDF 45.5% vs. UDF 41.98%). MLA and Minister VN Vasavan (LDF) received a score of 70.95.
• Aroor: The survey projects a 4.57% UDF lead (UDF 43.32% vs. LDF 38.75%), while the BJP secures 18.02%. MLA Daleema Jojo (LDF) recorded a score of 55.8.
• Alappuzha: The LDF holds a 12.96% lead (LDF 51.20% vs. UDF 38.24%). MLA PP Chitharanjan (LDF) recorded a score of 72.2.
• Haripad: The UDF leads by 14.87% (UDF 47.72% vs. LDF 32.85%), with the BJP at 19.43%. MLA Ramesh Chennithala (UDF) holds a high score of 78.6.
• Kundara: The UDF leads by 8.95% (UDF 49.55% vs. LDF 40.6%). MLA PC Vishnunath (UDF) received a score of 70.58.
• Kazhakkoottam: The LDF leads by 7.36% (LDF 43.14% vs. UDF 21.08%), while the BJP holds a strong 35.78%. MLA Kadakampally Surendran (LDF) recorded a score of 62.81.
• Nemom: This is a “Tight Fight” with a thin 1.21% LDF lead (LDF 41.02% vs. BJP 39.81%), while the UDF is at 18.91%. MLA and Minister V Sivankutty (LDF) received a performance score of 70.41.

(Earlier, we also looked into 35 other constituencies… Read it here)