Peravoor: With Kerala set to go to the State Assembly polls on April 9, a pre-poll survey by Citizens Opinion Research and Evaluation (CORE) for Mathrubhumi has provided the first glimpse of the political mood in the state, indicating a close contest in Peravoor with a slight advantage for the UDF.

According to the survey, Sunny Joseph of the UDF is leading with 47.79 per cent vote share, followed closely by CPM leader KK Shailaja at 45.81 per cent. NDA candidate Paily Vathiattu of BDJS trails with 6.4 per cent, making it a tight triangular contest. The UDF’s lead currently stands at just 1.98 percentage points.

Framing the contest as a significant political test, Shailaja said she views her battle against the KPCC chief as a “challenge,” while expressing confidence in the Left Democratic Front’s prospects.

Joseph has represented Peravoor since 2011. However, Shailaja said the constituency remains winnable for the Left, citing the relatively narrow victory margins of the United Democratic Front in recent elections.

Shifted from Mattannur, a CPM stronghold where she secured a record victory margin of 60,963 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections, Shailaja is returning to a constituency where she has prior experience. She had won from Peravoor in 2006 but lost to Joseph in 2011.