Kerala Polls 2026: Veena Nair dropped by Twenty20 over absence of her name in voters list

In a setback to NDA ally Twenty20 ahead of the April 9 Kerala Assembly elections, the party on Thursday withdrew two of its high-profile actress candidates after their names were found missing from the voters’ list.

Actress Lakshmi Priya, who was fielded from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, and Veena Nair, the candidate from Ettumanoor in Kottayam district, were both replaced following the discrepancy. Party sources said the issue came to light during scrutiny of electoral rolls, despite both having voted in previous elections.

By evening, Twenty20 moved quickly to announce replacements. Jibi Pathiykkal, a former Congress functionary who later joined Twenty20, has been named as the new candidate from Perumbavoor. In Ettumanoor, the party has fielded Athira D Nair, a 20-year-old classical musician, dancer and entrepreneur, making her the youngest NDA candidate in Kerala.

In an official statement, the party said Lakshmi Priya’s candidature was withdrawn after her name could not be located in the Assembly voters’ list. Pathiykkal, her replacement, has also served as secretary of the Jacobite Youth Association in the region.

Also watch: Kerala Polls 2026: G Sudhakaran’s independent bid turns Ambalapuzha into high-stakes battle 

The development adds an interesting dimension to the Perumbavoor contest, where multiple candidates have roots in the Congress. The LDF-backed Kerala Congress (M) has fielded Basil Paul, who also has a Congress background. Further complicating the race, sitting Congress MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly has reportedly threatened to contest as an independent if denied a party ticket, potentially turning the constituency into a multi-cornered contest among leaders with Congress links.

Explaining her withdrawal, Veena Nair said she last voted in 2020 in Changanassery but had not updated her details in the Assembly electoral roll. She acknowledged not making corrections during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

“When I checked the voters’ list as part of the candidature process, my name was not there. I realised that the voters’ list for Assembly elections and local body elections is different,” she said.

Despite stepping down, Nair affirmed her support for the party and said she would campaign for its candidates.

Meanwhile, Twenty20 president Sabu M Jacob highlighted the credentials of Athira D Nair, noting her academic background in computer science, experience as a school teacher in Mannanam, and her work as a social media influencer.

The party continues to field other prominent faces, with actress Anjali Nair set to contest from Tripunithura and filmmaker and reality show participant Akhil Marar from Thrikkakara.