Nattakom Suresh of the Indian National Congress has secured a decisive victory in the Ettumanoor Assembly constituency, polling over 64,000 votes and defeating the Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate V.N. Vasavan by a margin of nearly 20,000 votes. This result marks a strong mandate for the Congress party in the region.
Constituency Profile
Ettumanoor, numbered 96, is located in the Kottayam district of Kerala and falls under the Kottayam parliamentary constituency. Established in 1957 and redrawn during the 2008 delimitation, it encompasses the town of Ettumanoor, panchayats such as Athirampuzha, Changanacherry, and nearby areas in Meenachil taluk. The constituency has approximately 170,000 electors.
Economic and Cultural Significance
This general seat revolves around rubber and paddy farming. The iconic Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple attracts millions of devotees during festivals. Syrian Christian communities, small businesses, and semi-urban growth characterize the area, blending spirituality with agrarian prosperity near the Kumarakom backwaters.
Historical Election Trends
The Indian National Congress, part of the United Democratic Front, reclaimed dominance in 2021 when Suresh Kurup became the current MLA. He secured 72,649 votes (47.82 percent), defeating CPI(M)'s Saji Manjakadambil, who received 64,567 votes, by a margin of 8,082 votes (5.32 percent) at a turnout of 76.45 percent. This reversed the Left Democratic Front's 2016 hold under Manjakadambil, who had won by a margin of 10,362 votes. The INC has won 8 out of 15 elections in the constituency, leveraging the temple-town appeal against LDF labor bases and a BJP surge of 12-15 percent.
Key Issues
- Rubber price slumps affecting farmers' livelihoods.
- Monsoon flooding in low-lying areas.
- Traffic congestion during temple festivals.
- Youth unemployment driving migration.
- Water and electricity shortages.
- Rural healthcare gaps.
- Demands for road widening and school upgrades.
- Boost to backwater tourism.
These faith-agriculture tensions fuel intense UDF-LDF rivalries in this vibrant central Kerala hub. The 2026 election results have reaffirmed Congress's stronghold in Ettumanoor, with Nattakom Suresh's victory underscoring the party's continued relevance in the region.
