The unprecedented political tsunami that swept across Malabar dealt a debilitating blow to the LDF as unshakable strongholds fell in rapid succession. From its ideological heartland in Kannur to its once-formidable bastions in Kozhikode, the LDF's dependable electoral engine broke down, delivering a severe blow to the CPM's political standing in northern Kerala.
Historic Collapse of Left Bastions
The scale of the CPM's rout was historic and sharp, as it was reduced to eight seats in the 48 constituencies of Malabar, down from 28 in 2021. In a stunning reversal, the LDF failed to open its account in Malappuram and Wayanad and was left with just a solitary seat in Kozhikode, where it had dominated with 11 seats five years ago. What made the verdict extraordinary was the collapse at the core of the Left's political geography, including strongholds in Kannur and constituencies like Trikaripur where the UDF had not won for decades.
Fractured Social Coalition
For decades, the LDF's strength in Malabar rested on a carefully balanced social coalition: class-based mobilization in communist strongholds, sustained minority trust, and organizational discipline. This election saw all three pillars fracture simultaneously. The verdict reflected negative voting from the CPM's traditional support base and illustrated dissatisfaction with the party's internal functioning and political direction of the leadership.
In a dramatic turnaround, the UDF won 12 of the 13 seats in Kozhikode, up from two in 2021. The resurgence of the Congress, after a quarter-century absence, was striking, with the party winning five seats, while the IUML secured six and the RMP won the remaining seat. Only PA Mohammed Riyas managed to hold the CPM's fort in Beypore. In a district where not a single Congress candidate was elected in the past 25 years, all five Congress candidates won. The IUML also won all six seats it contested. In 2016 and 2021, the UDF secured only two seats each in Kozhikode.
Key Upsets and High Margins
The wins in traditional Left strongholds added to the significance of the UDF's surge, with IUML's Fathima Thahiliya defeating LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan in Perambra, KSU leader VT Sooraj defeating Sachin Dev in Balussery, and Vidhya Balakrishnan defeating minister AK Saseendran in Elathur. Sooraj, the youngest candidate, recorded the highest margin in the district with 16,980 votes.
In Kannur, internal dissent and dissident candidates fractured the CPM's organizational discipline. Though the CPM managed to retain six seats, the victory of two rebels and the reduced margin for Pinarayi Vijayan in Dharmadom underscored deep discontent against the leadership.
Anti-Incumbency and Internal Dissent
At the core of the electoral reversal lay a combination of factors, the most prominent being the sweeping anti-incumbency wave and negative voting from cadres against autocratic tendencies within the CPM leadership. Equally emphatic was the UDF's sweep in Malappuram, which wrested the Left citadel of Ponnani that had elected Left candidates for decades. The Congress won all three seats in Wayanad.
The magnitude of the UDF surge was reflected in win margins, as seven constituencies saw over 50,000 votes. Senior IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty registered a record margin of over 85,000 votes.
Political Analyst's Perspective
Calling the verdict a reflection of Kerala's heightened political awareness, political observer MN Karassery said voters, including CPM supporters, demonstrated independent judgment even when the party and its leader asked them to vote citing ideological allegiance. "The victories of V Kunhikrishnan and TK Govindan showed that even cadres are willing to question and correct the leadership. Over the past five years, the CPM and government had become synonymous with Pinarayi Vijayan. The verdict is a clear message from within that such a situation cannot continue," he said.
