Thiruvananthapuram: The constituencies are unchanged. The candidates are largely the same. The only question now is the outcome. Will the verdict repeat, or will it shift?

In 16 constituencies across Kerala, rivals from the 2021 Assembly elections are set to face off again. Sitting MLAs are battling to retain their seats, while defeated candidates are aiming for a comeback. The stakes are high on both sides, with each camp banking on changed political dynamics to tilt the balance in its favour.

Constituencies where old rivals meet again

Manjeshwar (Kasaragod), Sulthan Bathery (Wayanad), Kuttiyadi (Kozhikode), Thrithala (Palakkad), Malampuzha (Palakkad), Irinjalakuda (Thrissur), Kalamassery (Ernakulam), Kunnathunad (Ernakulam), Kothamangalam (Ernakulam), Pala (Kottayam), Kottayam, Poonjar (Kottayam), Aroor (Alappuzha), Chavara (Kollam), Pathanapuram (Kollam), Chadayamangalam (Kollam)

In Manjeshwar, K Surendran (BJP-led NDA) and A K M Ashraf (IUML-led UDF) faced off in 2021. Ashraf won by 745 votes, with Surendran finishing second. LDF’s V V Ramesan (CPM) came third. The same rivals are in the fray again.

In Sulthan Bathery, M S Viswanathan (CPM) and I C Balakrishnan (Congress, UDF) contested last time, with Balakrishnan emerging victorious. Both candidates are contesting again.

In Kuttiyadi, K P Kunhammed Kutty (LDF) defeated Parakkal Abdulla (IUML) by 333 votes. The contest is once again between the same opponents.

Thrithala witnessed a high-voltage contest in 2021, when M B Rajesh (CPM) defeated V T Balram (Congress) by 3,016 votes. The two are set to clash again.

In Malampuzha, A Prabhakaran (LDF) beat C Krishnakumar (BJP, NDA) by 25,734 votes. Both candidates are contesting again.

In Irinjalakuda, R Bindu (LDF) defeated Thomas Unniyadan (Kerala Congress) by 5,949 votes and later became a minister. The same candidates are in the fray again.

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In Kalamassery, P Rajeev (CPM) won against V E Abdul Gafoor (IUML) by 15,336 votes. The contest remains unchanged.

In Kunnathunad, P V Srinijin (LDF) defeated V P Sajeendran (Congress, UDF) by 2,715 votes. The same candidates are contesting again.

In Kothamangalam, Antony John (LDF) beat Shibu Thekkumpuram (Kerala Congress) by 6,605 votes. The rivals meet again.

In Pala, Mani C Kappan defeated Jose K Mani (Kerala Congress (M)) by 15,378 votes in 2021. The two are contesting again under opposing fronts.

In Kottayam, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (UDF) defeated K Anilkumar (LDF) by 18,743 votes. Both are back in the fray.

In Poonjar, Sebastian Kulathunkal (Kerala Congress (M), LDF) won by 16,817 votes. P C George, who finished second last time, is contesting again, now as a BJP candidate.

In Aroor, Daleema (LDF) defeated Shanimol Usman (UDF) by 7,013 votes. The same candidates face each other again.

In Chavara, Sujith Vijayanpillai (LDF-backed Independent) defeated Shibu Baby John (RSP, UDF) by 1,096 votes. The same candidates face each other again.

In Pathanapuram, K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress (B), LDF) defeated Jyothikumar Chamakkala (Congress) by 14,336 votes. Both candidates are contesting again.

In Chadayamangalam, J Chinchu Rani (CPI) defeated N M Nazeer (UDF) by 13,678 votes. The same rivals are set for another contest.