Puthukkad Verdict: CPI(M)’s K K Ramachandran Edges Emerges Victorious In Tight Finish
In a closely fought and edge-of-the-seat contest, the Puthukkad Assembly constituency delivered one of the most gripping results of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, with the final outcome decided only after all rounds of counting were completed.
K. K. Ramachandran of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has secured victory by a narrow margin of 2,853 votes, defeating K. M. Baburajan of the Indian National Congress. The result was officially declared after the completion of all 17 rounds of counting, underlining the intense competition between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) in this constituency. From the early stages of counting, the contest remained neck-and-neck, with both candidates exchanging leads across multiple rounds. Neither side was able to establish a decisive advantage for a long time, keeping party workers, observers, and voters on edge throughout the day.
Puthukkad, located in Thrissur district, has long been known for its politically active electorate and balanced voting patterns, often resulting in tightly contested elections. The 2026 verdict once again reflected this trend, with voters split almost evenly between the two major fronts. K. K. Ramachandran’s eventual victory is seen as a result of consistent grassroots support and strong organizational backing of the CPI(M). His campaign, focused on development, welfare, and local governance, appears to have resonated just enough to push him across the finish line.
On the other hand, K. M. Baburajan of the Congress put up a strong and determined challenge, ensuring that the contest remained highly competitive until the very last round. The narrow margin reflects how close the Congress came to flipping the seat, indicating a significant presence of UDF support in the constituency. Political observers note that such a tight margin highlights the shifting and competitive political landscape in Puthukkad, where even small swings in voter sentiment can determine the outcome.
The counting process was conducted smoothly and transparently, with every round closely monitored as the lead changed hands multiple times before settling in favour of the CPI(M) candidate. With this hard-fought victory, K. K. Ramachandran has retained Puthukkad for the CPI(M), reinforcing the LDF’s hold on the constituency—though the narrow margin signals that future contests here are likely to remain intensely competitive.
(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.)
