The Palakkad assembly constituency, which saw a high octane campaign that gave rise to scores of controversies, saw a voter turnout of 70.01 per cent till 6.49 pm on Wednesday after voting in the bypoll concluded in over 86 per cent of the polling booths.

This was a decline from the 73.83 per cent turnout recorded in the assembly polls held in the state in 2021.

All three major political fronts – the Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF), and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – are confident of victory on November 23, when the votes will be counted. This bypoll, triggered by the election of Congress legislator Shafi Parambil to the Lok Sabha, has been one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory.

Profile of Palakkad Assembly seat

Palakkad is one of Kerala’s 140 Assembly constituencies, located in the Palakkad district. Known for its rich agricultural background and significant political importance, the seat has witnessed intense political rivalry, especially after the 2021 Assembly elections. Historically, Palakkad has been a swing constituency, with each of the major political fronts vying for supremacy here.

Candidates in the fray

This bypoll has seen an interesting mix of candidates from all three political fronts:

Congress (UDF): Rahul Mamkootathil, the Youth Congress president, is the Congress candidate. Despite being a popular face, his candidacy has faced some opposition within the party, as he is not a local candidate. 

BJP (NDA): The BJP has fielded Krishnakumar, a local leader with significant support in the region. Initially, there was some disagreement within the party over the candidate, but Krishnakumar’s name was eventually finalized.

Left (LDF): Dr. P. Sarin, a former Congress leader, has switched to the CPI(M) and is contesting as an independent candidate supported by the Left. Sarin’s entry into the race has added another layer of competition.

Additionally, Sandeep Warrier, a popular face from the BJP, made headlines by joining the Congress just before the final stretch of the campaign, adding further drama to the already intense contest.

Local issues

The political fight in Palakkad is driven by several local issues, primarily focusing on the development of infrastructure, agricultural policies, and economic growth. Palakkad, which is primarily an agricultural area, has been facing challenges such as poor irrigation facilities, lack of proper road infrastructure, and the need for greater government support for farmers. The rising cost of living and unemployment among the youth are also key concerns raised by voters. These issues are expected to play a crucial role in influencing voter choices.

Electorate size and number of booths

The total electorate in Palakkad constituency stands at 1,94,706 voters. Polling will take place across 184 polling booths set up for the election. The constituency is well-connected, with a sizable rural population, and a mix of urban and semi-urban regions, which will be reflected in the voting patterns.

Previous election result and vote share

In the 2021 Kerala Assembly Elections, the Palakkad seat saw a tight contest. Shafi Parambil of Congress won the seat with a slender margin of 3,859 votes, defeating E. Sreedharan of the BJP. This was a significant win for Congress, as the BJP had emerged as a strong challenger in the region, finishing second in the race. 

The vote share in 2021 was:
Shafi Parambil (Congress): 37.8%  
E. Sreedharan (BJP): 36.1%  
C.P  Promod (CPM): 22.5%