Curious case of Vattiyoorkavu assembly seat: A rare three-way political showdown

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency in Kerala’s capital has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in the April 9 polls, with three prominent candidates locking horns in a triangular fight that reflects shifting political dynamics in the state.

The constituency, located within the Thiruvananthapuram city corporation limits, is witnessing a keen contest between sitting MLA VK Prashanth of the CPM-led LDF, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan representing the UDF, and former state police chief R Sreelekha contesting for the BJP-led NDA.

Three-way contest with high-profile faces

The presence of heavyweight candidates has elevated Vattiyoorkavu into a prestige battle for all three fronts. While Prashanth seeks a third consecutive victory, Muraleedharan is attempting a political comeback, and Sreelekha’s entry has added momentum to the BJP’s campaign in an urban constituency where it has been steadily expanding its base.

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Development pitch vs comeback narrative

For Prashanth, the campaign is centred on governance and continuity. First elected in the 2019 bypoll after Muraleedharan vacated the seat, and re-elected in 2021, he is banking on his development record.

“While meeting voters, I am confident and proud to present our progress card, which explains the expenditure of Rs 1,050 crore on development activities in the past six years in Vattiyoorkavu,” he said.

Highlighting infrastructure gains, he added, “When I first contested here, our campaign vehicles used to travel through roads filled with potholes. Now, even the former MLA and UDF candidate can travel smoothly through the constituency.”

Prashanth also dismissed concerns over the BJP’s rising vote share, noting that “voting patterns change in every election.”

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Muraleedharan, on the other hand, has framed the contest as a “homecoming”, projecting confidence despite his recent Lok Sabha defeat from Thrissur.

“Other candidates are contesting for second place,” he said.

He has promised to revive stalled projects such as the proposed Thiruvananthapuram Metro and a medical college, asserting, “These projects will come to life if I am elected.” At the same time, he stressed the need for a clean campaign, adding, “Apart from raising political criticism, I would like to ensure a fair fight.”

BJP looks to convert growing base

R Sreelekha, the first woman DGP of Kerala, has brought a new dimension to the contest as the NDA candidate. Her candidacy is seen as part of the BJP’s strategy to consolidate its gains in urban pockets.

“The developmental model put forward by the central government will be my prime motivation,” she said, adding that unemployment and security concerns among believers would be key issues in her campaign.

Her entry comes at a time when the BJP has shown signs of electoral growth in the constituency, particularly in local body elections.

Changing electoral trends favour a tight race

Recent electoral data indicate that Vattiyoorkavu is no longer a safe seat for any front. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, NDA candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar led in the assembly segment with 53,025 votes, followed by UDF’s Shashi Tharoor with 44,863 and LDF’s Pannian Raveendran with 28,336.

The constituency has seen shifting loyalties over the years. Muraleedharan won the seat in 2016, but the 2019 bypoll marked a turnaround with Prashanth securing 44.25 per cent votes for the LDF. He retained the seat in 2021 with a similar vote share.

At the grassroots level, the BJP has strengthened its position. Of the 18 corporation wards within the constituency, the NDA holds 10, while the LDF controls six and the UDF three.