Kothamangalam Elections: Will Antony John Secure A Third Term Or Is Change Looming?
Kothamangalam recorded a voter turnout of 79.30% in the 2026 Assembly elections, with polling progressing steadily through the day. This time, the polling percentage was little lower than last time in the area, which is known as the gateway to the hills in the eastern parts of Ernakulam district. A constituency, which acted in favour of the United Democratic Front (UDF) historically, is held by the CPI(M) of Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the last two terms.
The constituency, which includes both town areas and surrounding agrarian regions, usually witnesses closely fought contests. Voters here tend to focus on local issues such as infrastructure, employment, agriculture and basic services, rather than broader political narratives.
The main contest is between CPI(M)’s Antony John, the sitting MLA, and UDF candidate Shibu Thekkumpuram. While smaller parties like BJDS (from the BJP-led NDA alliance) and SDPI are also in the fray, the competition remains largely between the two fronts.
In the 2021 election, Antony John won the seat for a second time with 47.1% of the vote, defeating his opponent by a margin of 6,605 votes. It was Kerala Congress’s Shibu Thekkumpuram was UDF candidate that time as well.
As per analysts, a large volume of neutral votes are expected to shift in favour of Shibu as anti-incumbency is high in Kothamangalam. And ground reports are suggesting that the contest is close between two major alliances. With turnout staying at a moderate level, the final result is likely to depend on how each side consolidates its support across different parts of the constituency. The results for the Kothamangalam assembly constituency will be announced on May 4, along with 139 other constituencies in the state.
(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.)
