Published Feb 28, 2026 | 12:58 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 28, 2026 | 12:58 PM
This time, all the three major fronts' candidates will get tested booth by booth, ward by ward. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Senior Congress leader K Babu’s exit from electoral politics has upended Thripunithura’s 2026 Assembly race, transforming a predictable UDF–LDF contest into a volatile three-way battle. With wafer-thin margins, shifting alliances, and BJP’s municipal breakthrough, the constituency now hinges on candidate selection, community arithmetic, and booth-level strategy — making it one of Kerala’s most closely watched seats.
A single sentence from senior Congress leader K Babu has redrawn the political map of Thripunithura Assembly Constituency in Ernakulam.
When the six-time MLA announced on 19 February that he was stepping away from electoral politics — despite persuasion from senior Congress leaders — it did not sound dramatic.
But in a constituency decided by wafer-thin margins and layered community equations, his exit has landed like a thunderclap.
For nearly three decades, Babu was the Congress anchor in this royal pocket of Ernakulam — winning five straight terms from 1991, returning again in 2021, and remaining the central figure even in the 2016 upset when the CPI(M)’s M Swaraj briefly broke his hold.
In Thripunithura, elections were rarely imagined without his name on the ballot.
Now, that certainty has vanished.
Congress is scrambling to manage succession and factional balance. Meanwhile, CPI(M), which lost by just 992 votes last time, senses an opening it did not expect. BJP, on the other hand, buoyed by its takeover of the Thripunithura municipality, believes the ground is shifting in its favour.
What was once a predictable contest has suddenly turned into a three-cornered calculation. In a town that still carries the imprint of its royal past, the battle for the democratic throne has rarely looked this open — or this unpredictable.
Thripunithura is not just another seat in Ernakulam district — it is fast emerging as one of the ‘star constituencies’ of the 2026 Assembly elections.
With one announcement, K Babu has reset the political equations in Thripunithura.
K Babu
His decision to step away from the electoral fray has transformed the constituency into a three-cornered contest where community arithmetic, organisational muscle and shifting loyalties could prove decisive.
A six-time MLA since 1991 — barring his 2016 defeat — Babu’s exit closes a long personal chapter but opens up a complex succession fight. Within Congress, jockeying has already begun, with caste balances and factional considerations quietly shaping the conversation.
The constituency comprises the Thripunithura and Maradu municipalities, the Kumbalam and Udayamperoor grama panchayats, and nine divisions of the Kochi Corporation.
The local body verdict of 2025 has altered the ground reality significantly. BJP captured the Thripunithura municipality for the first time, signalling a steady organisational rise.
Maradu remains with UDF, which also controls Kumbalam and Udayamperoor panchayats.
In the Kochi Corporation segments, LDF secured divisions such as Kadebhagam, Palluruthi East, Thazhup, Edakochi North, Perumpadappu, Konnam, Palluruthi-Kacheripady and Nambipuram, while Edakochi South favoured the UDF.
On paper, UDF and LDF appear evenly matched.
Traditionally, UDF enjoyed the upper hand in Thripunithura — but BJP’s breakthrough in the municipality has complicated that narrative.
With Babu’s withdrawal, Congress suddenly faces the challenge of finding a candidate capable of holding together his diverse vote base.
Several names have surfaced. KPCC vice-president M Liju is seen as someone who could consolidate sections of the Ezhava vote.
Actor Ramesh Pisharody’s name has also been doing the rounds, alongside party general secretary MR Abhilash and Ernakulam DCC office-bearer Raju P Nair. So far, however, none has openly declared willingness to contest.
The real test for Congress will be whether it can prevent internal rivalries from undermining its prospects in a constituency that has been closely fought over the past decade.
For CPI(M), which lost to Babu by just 992 votes in 2021, Thripunithura represents a missed opportunity waiting to be reclaimed.
One of the strongest names under consideration is former Kochi Mayor Adv. M Anil Kumar. The party believes his clean image and grassroots outreach could attract undecided voters. However, questions remain about whether the Left can iron out coordination issues in pockets where intra-party tensions have previously hurt its performance.
Former MLA M Swaraj’s name is also very much in circulation.
M Swaraj
Swaraj had won in 2016 but narrowly lost in 2021, reportedly amid internal frictions.
Interestingly, a recent CPI(M) district secretariat meeting recommended that all sitting MLAs in Ernakulam district be fielded again — including P Rajeev (Kalamassery), KJ Maxi (Kochi), KN Unnikrishnan (Vypeen), PV Sreenijan (Kunnathunadu) and Antony John (Kothamangalam).
Though Swaraj is not currently an MLA, he remains a prominent face. There are indications he could be considered for constituencies outside the district, which is why other names — including Anil Kumar and KS Arun Kumar — have been suggested for Thripunithura. The party’s internal assessment is clear: with the right candidate and better coordination, the seat is within reach.
Twenty20
BJP, buoyed by its municipal victory and the broader NDA momentum, is approaching Thripunithura with unusual confidence. The induction of Twenty20 into the NDA fold has further energised its calculations.
Twenty20 president Sabu M Jacob is widely seen as a serious contender if the alliance opts for a high-profile face.
His candidacy, if it materialises, could reshape traditional vote alignments and pull in sections beyond the BJP’s conventional base.
Thripunithura’s recent history reflects its volatility: Congress won in 2011, CPI(M)’s M Swaraj took it in 2016, and Babu reclaimed it in 2021.
Now, without Babu on the ballot, the contest is no longer a straightforward UDF–LDF duel.
Instead, it resembles a carefully poised chessboard with three players — each calculating community combinations, booth-level strengths and coalition possibilities. The margins in recent elections have been thin. In such a scenario, even minor shifts in loyalty or turnout could tip the scales.
As candidate discussions intensify across all fronts, one thing is clear: Thripunithura is unlikely to be a routine contest. It is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched battles of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections — a constituency where arithmetic may matter as much as rhetoric, and strategy as much as sentiment.
At the same time, political analyst NM Pearson, speaking to South First, said the evolving situation in Thripunithura has altered the conventional advantage enjoyed by UDF.
“The current political climate has undeniably created an opening for both LDF and NDA in Thripunithura. Congress is entering the fray without the personal vote base of K Babu, and that changes the chemistry of the contest. In my assessment, LDF begins with a slight edge here because of organisational depth and the narrow margin in 2021. If they manage internal coordination better this time, the seat is very much within their grasp,” he observed.
According to him, what makes Thripunithura particularly interesting is that it may turn out to be the only bright spot for the Left in Ernakulam district.
“Except for Thripunithura, I see the remaining constituencies in the district tilting towards UDF. So paradoxically, while Ernakulam as a whole may not favour LDF, this specific seat could well go their way,” he said.
The 2021 Assembly election in Thripunithura unfolded as one of the most gripping contests in Ernakulam district, with leads seesawing until the final rounds of counting.
In a state where the LDF registered sweeping gains, this constituency stood apart for its nail-biting finish.
The fight was primarily between UDF candidate K Babu and LDF’s M Swaraj, with BJP’s KS Radhakrishnan also polling a significant vote share.
Early trends reflected a tight race.
Babu drew strong backing from Maradu, Udayamperoor, Kumbalam and Edakochi, while Swaraj consolidated votes in LDF bastions like Eroor and Palluruthy.
The Thripunithura town segment delivered a mixed verdict, with the NDA recording its best performance there. As counting progressed, the lead changed hands multiple times.
Swaraj surged ahead after results from Palluruthy and Kacheripady, sharply cutting Babu’s advantage. However, the Edakochi segment turned the tide once more, restoring Babu’s lead at a crucial stage.
Even the postal votes — keenly watched in the final stretch — only marginally altered the gap. When the final figures were declared, K Babu secured 65,875 votes against Swaraj’s 64,883, clinching victory by just 992 votes.
Radhakrishnan polled 23,756 votes, while NOTA drew over 1,000 ballots — more than the final winning margin, underlining the constituency’s complex mood.
For Thripunithura, it was an election that reaffirmed its reputation for unpredictability.
If 2021 was a thriller decided by 992 votes, 2026 promises to be something else altogether — an open contest without its central character.
With K Babu stepping away, Thripunithura loses the familiar anchor around whom equations were built for over a decade. His personal network, micro-level booth machinery, and cross-party goodwill had often tilted tight margins.
Without him on the ballot, the arithmetic resets.
One thing is clear, this time, all the three major fronts’ candidates will get tested booth by booth, ward by ward.
