Kasaragod Constituency: Will Voters Rally Behind Congress’ Rajmohan Unnithan Again In The CPI(M) Stronghold?

The Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency, a crucial segment among Kerala’s 20 parliamentary seats, is preparing for the polls on April 26, in the second phase of the 2024 general election. As both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are engrossed in tight campaigning, the question looms: Will voters support Congress candidate Rajmohan Unnithan again to maintain the CPI(M) stronghold? In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rajmohan Unnithan secured victory in what has traditionally been a CPI (M) bastion.

In the 2019 General Elections, Kasaragod saw a tightly contested battle with an impressive 80.57% voter turnout. Rajmohan Unnithan emerged victorious with a significant margin, securing 4,74,961 votes and defeating CPI (M) candidate KP Satheesh Chandran, who garnered 4,34,523 votes. In the 2024 elections, the electorate in Kasaragod is set to exhibit the strength of their vote more fervently than ever before. Besides Rajmohan Unnithan, the candidates for the Kasaragod Lok Sabha Constituency include ML Ashwini from the BJP and MV Balakrishnan from the CPI (M).

Kasaragod, known as the ‘Land of Seven Languages,’ has a diverse linguistic landscape with Marathi, Konkani, Byari, Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, and Urdu spoken widely. The constituency is part of both Kannur district and the entirety of Kasaragod. It comprises seven assembly segments: Manjeshwar, Kanhangad, Kasaragod, Trikaripur, Uduma, Payyanur, and Kalliasseri, with 5 LDF MLAs and 2 IUML MLAs. Until May 24, 1984, Kasaragod was part of the Kannur district. The Left has clinched victory ten times, while Congress candidates have secured seats four times in the Lok Sabha elections. Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency has a total of 1,419,355 voters and is predominantly rural, with a literacy rate of approximately 91.13%. The constituency also has a Scheduled Caste (SC) population of 4.35% and a Scheduled Tribes (ST) population of 2.93%.

Recent allegations of irregularities surfaced during mock polls, claiming that EVMs gave extra votes to the BJP’s lotus symbol. However, the Election Commission has dismissed these controversies. The constituency has also gained attention for its oldest female voter, C. Kupachi, aged 111, who will cast her vote during the second phase. Home voting has commenced in the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency.

The election result is scheduled to be announced on June 4.

(This story is part of a Timeline. internship project.)