INC’s M J Sebastian secures a historic victory in Poonjar, reclaiming the seat for Congress after 59 years and defeating LDF’s Kulathunkal and BJP’s P C George.
Poonjar is witnessing its most major political shift in decades. In a major breakthrough for the Congress, UDF candidate Adv M J Sebastian has reclaimed the seat, ending a nearly six-decade-long drought for the party.
The final tally: A three-way contest
The 2026 results show a stark departure from the 2021 landscape, where Adv Sebastian Kulathunkal had won by a margin of 16,817 votes.
- Winner: Adv M J Sebastian (INC) — 56,900 votes
- Runner-up: Adv Sebastian Kulathunkal (KC-M) — 50,207 votes
- Third Place: P C George (BJP) — 36,172 votes
Key factors behind the shift
1. The ‘Church Row’ and UDF consolidation
The campaign was defined by a rare and aggressive confrontation between the NDA camp and the Catholic hierarchy. P C George and his son, Shone George, issued stern warnings to the clergy, accusing the Syro-Malabar Church and its mouthpiece, Deepika, of acting as a "UDF front". This friction backfired, triggering a sympathy wave for the UDF and consolidating the traditional "Church vote" behind M J Sebastian.
2. P C George’s high-risk gamble
Contesting on a BJP/NDA ticket, veteran seven-time MLA P C George attempted a "Hindu-Christian" nationalist front. However, his tally of 36,172 votes fell short of his 2021 performance (41,851 votes). While he remained a vocal critic of the government, his public spats with the Bishops of Pala and Kanjirappally likely alienated segments of his traditional Christian base.
3. The Erattupetta factor
The Muslim electorate in Erattupetta municipality, which famously handed George a 16,000-vote defeat in 2021 after a "bitter rupture" over controversial remarks, remained decisive. The community’s continued distance from the NDA and a swing toward the UDF proved pivotal in sealing the Congress victory.
4. LDF’s setback
Despite a record of development from 2021 to 2026, sitting MLA Sebastian Kulathunkal saw his tally drop by nearly 8,000 votes compared to his 2021 performance. The LDF’s quiet confidence in its local government grip was ultimately overwhelmed by a strong anti-incumbency trend and the social-political polarisation that favoured the UDF.
A new chapter
M J Sebastian’s victory represents a "sober alternative" to George’s aggressive rhetoric and the LDF's administrative focus. By positioning the UDF as the protector of religious institutions, the party successfully reclaimed a constituency that had eluded them since 1967. For P C George, this second consecutive loss raises serious questions about the future of his brand of politics in the region.
| Category | 2021 Election | 2026 Election (Provisional) |
| Polling Percentage | 78.2% | ~75.5% |
| LDF Candidate | Sebastian Kulathungal (KC-M) | Sebastian Kulathungal (KC-M) |
| UDF Candidate | Tomy Kallany (INC) | Adv Sebastian M J (INC) |
| NDA Candidate | P C George (Independent/KJS) | P C George (BJP) |
| Winning Margin | 16,817 (LDF) | 6,693 (UDF) |
Published: 04 May 2026, 05:30 am IST
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