Manjeshwaram Braces For Intense Electoral Battle As Voting Nears
Manjeshwaram, Kasaragod: As election campaigning in the Manjeshwaram Assembly constituency came to an end yesterday, the region is set to go to polls on April 9 as part of the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026, with indications of a tightly contested battle between UDF candidate A. K. M. Ashraf and NDA candidate K. Surendran, while the LDF remains a significant third force. With a total electorate exceeding 2.2 lakh, including 2,21,682 registered voters in 2021, first-time voters are expected to play a crucial role.
In the 2021 Assembly election, IUML candidate A. K. M. Ashraf secured 65,858 votes (38.14%), narrowly defeating BJP’s K. Surendran, who polled 65,013 votes (37.7%), resulting in a razor-thin margin of 855 votes. CPI(M) candidate V. V. Rameshan received 40,639 votes (23.57%), underlining the triangular nature of the contest.
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Bordering Karnataka, the constituency has largely remained a stronghold of the Indian Union Muslim League since 1957, with only a few exceptions when Left candidates managed to win, shaping its long-standing political character.
Senior leaders from all fronts have actively campaigned in the region, reflecting the high stakes involved. The UDF is relying on Ashraf’s incumbency, while the NDA is aiming to convert its narrow 2021 defeat into a victory. The LDF continues efforts to consolidate its vote base and remain a decisive factor.
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Meanwhile, the SDPI, which had initially planned to contest, withdrew its candidate citing “positive politics” and the need to avoid division of secular votes that could benefit the BJP. The move is expected to influence vote consolidation in this closely fought constituency.
As the campaign concludes, Manjeshwaram remains one of the most closely watched seats, where even minor shifts in votes could determine the outcome when polling begins tomorrow.
