IUML's Najeeb Kanthapuram Wins Perinthalmanna, Defeates LDF' Haneefa By Massive 32,431 Votes Lead
Malappuram, Kerala: In a stunning display of political consolidation, incumbent MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram has secured a landslide victory in the Perinthalmanna constituency, effectively silencing critics of his razor-thin 2021 margin.
Representing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kanthapuram defeated the Left Democratic Front’s V.P. Mohammed Haneefa by a whopping 32,431 votes. The result, declared after 22 rounds of counting, marks a historic high for the UDF in a seat that had recently become synonymous with nail-biting finishes.
The contest was a significant departure from the previous election, where Kanthapuram won by a mere 38 votes, the lowest margin in the state at the time. This time, however, the UDF candidate established an early lead that only grew as the count progressed through the rural heartlands and urban centers of the constituency. According to final figures from the Election Commission, Kanthapuram polled 104,888 votes, securing a dominant 56.36% of the total vote share, while his CPM rival finished with 72,457 votes.
Political analysts attribute this massive mandate to a “wave of consolidation” within the UDF’s traditional base and a strong endorsement of Kanthapuram’s performance as a legislator. Throughout the campaign, the IUML leadership had expressed confidence that the era of narrow victories was over, and the final results have vindicated that stance.
As jubilant party workers flooded the streets of Perinthalmanna to celebrate the definitive win, the result sends a clear message about the UDF’s renewed strength in the Malappuram district.
(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.)
