The Peravoor assembly constituency in Kannur witnessed one of the most closely watched contests of the election. It once again favoured Sunny Joseph, handing a defeat to K K Shailaja and dealing her a second consecutive electoral setback in two years.
Shailaja's Setback
Shailaja, a CPM central committee member and former health minister who had recorded a massive victory margin of over 60,000 votes from Mattannur in 2021, lost to Joseph by 14,453 votes this time. The verdict marks Joseph's fourth straight win in the constituency, having first defeated Shailaja in 2011. Although he trailed in the initial rounds of counting, Joseph steadily built momentum to secure victory with 76,140 votes against Shailaja's 61,687.
Strategic Move Backfires
CPM had fielded Shailaja in Peravoor in a bid to reclaim a Congress stronghold, banking on her personal popularity and appeal. However, the move had drawn criticisms within party circles, with some viewing it as a strategic misstep that exposed her to a difficult contest and even charged that it was aimed at sidelining her.
Despite mounting a strong campaign, Shailaja was unable to overcome the broader anti-incumbency sentiment against LDF. The altered electoral landscape of the constituency following delimitation — significantly different from when she last won the seat in 2006 — worked in Joseph's favour.
Personal Popularity Not Enough
LDF had hoped to bank on Shailaja's personal popularity and her ability to attract votes beyond party lines. Her tenure as health minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government had brought her laurels for her handling of the Covid pandemic situation. Shailaja had contested the 2024 Parliament elections from Vadakara but had lost to Congress's Shafi Parambil with a huge margin.
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