High Turnout In Kunnathunad Adds Intensity To Three-Way Contest – Will Twenty Twenty20 Party Open Account This Time?

The elections, whether it is local body or assembly, in Kunnathunad Assembly constituency in Ernakulam district is watched closely by the political observers in the state due to the emergence of a third force in Kerala’s politics, supported by the management of a major corporate house in the area. In this assembly elections which was held on April 9, Thursday, this constituency recorded a voter turnout of 84.09%, emerging as one of the highest polling segments in the state.

The constituency, considered a stronghold of the Twenty20 party, which controls three panchayaths in the constituency, witnessed brisk voting from the morning, with turnout crossing 55% by early afternoon. The final figure marks an increase from the 82.5% turnout recorded in the 2021 Assembly elections.

The contest in Kunnathunad remains a closely fought triangular battle between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF), and Twenty20, which is aligned with the NDA in this election. Interestingly, the Twenty20 Party lost the rule in the Poothrikka panchayat after one of its councilors resigned from the party after its chief Sabu M. Jacob, head of Kitex group, decided to align with the BJP-led NDA. The LDF has fielded sitting MLA P. V. Sreenijin, while the UDF is represented by V. P. Sajeendran. Sreenijin, a former Congress leader and the son in law of former Supreme Court Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, is facing a close triangular contest as a resurgent UDF is engaged in a do or die battle in the district to win 14/14 seats.

Meanwhile, the NDA is expecting a win in Kunnathunad as they expect to increase the vote share with the combined numbers of BJP and TTP in the constituency. BJP and TTP together had more votes than the runner up in the last election, VP Sajeendran, who was the sitting MLA then.

Leaders across fronts offered differing interpretations of the high turnout. Twenty20 representatives attributed the increase to strong mobilisation of their supporters, while LDF leaders pointed out that the constituency has consistently recorded high polling in previous elections as well. UDF leaders, meanwhile, said the higher turnout could favour their candidate.

(This story is part of a Timeline. internship project “Whom They Voted For: Celebrating The Election Festival”. This internship project is being organised aimed at helping young minds understand the electoral process of the country.)