UDF Wave Reclaims Quilandy: Adv. K. Praveen Kumar Ends LDF Tenure in Coastal Belt
KOZHIKODE: In a major setback for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in its North Malabar strongholds, United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Adv K Praveen Kumar has secured a resounding victory in the Quilandy constituency. In a high-voltage battle that concluded after 18 rounds of counting, the Congress leader defeated the CPI(M) veteran and former MLA K Dasan.
The final results, officially declared by the Election Commission, confirmed a significant winning margin of 12,070 votes, signaling a clear shift in the political preference of the coastal electorate.
The contest in Quilandy was one of the most fiercely fought in the Kozhikode district, with both fronts deploying their top leadership for campaigning. From the opening of the postal ballots, Praveen Kumar established a lead that steadily widened as the counting progressed through the urban and coastal pockets.
The LDF, which had replaced its sitting MLA with the veteran K. Dasan in hopes of retaining the seat, found its traditional vote banks breached by a visible swing toward the UDF, particularly among the youth and neutral voters.
This victory is seen as a personal milestone for Adv. K. Praveen Kumar, who successfully tapped into local issues and anti-incumbency sentiments against the state government.
The loss of Quilandy, a seat that the CPI(M) had held with a comfortable margin in 2021, marks a significant dent in the LDF’s regional dominance. As jubilant UDF workers celebrated with victory rallies across the town, the result has emerged as one of the standout performances for the Congress in the 2026 Assembly polls, further consolidating its presence in the Malabar region.
(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.)
