Battle lines are drawn for the upcoming April 9 Assembly elections in Kerala’s Nemom constituency, known for being the BJP’s sole victory in the state. In 2016, O. Rajagopal secured the seat for the BJP, but it slipped away in 2021 to CPI-M’s V. Sivankutty, aided by Congress’ K. Muraleedharan splitting the anti-Left vote.
The BJP is gearing up early this time, with state President Rajeev Chandrasekhar declaring his candidacy well before the official list. Chandrasekhar is confident of regaining the seat and asserts his place among the BJP legislators in the next Assembly.
Sivankutty, the incumbent MLA and State Education Minister, remains a key figure for the CPI-M. Despite health concerns, he has started campaigning, positioning himself as the stronghold against opponents in Nemom. The Congress is introducing fresh energy with K.S. Sabarinathan, son of former Speaker G. Karthikeyan, who has already begun campaigning.
Nemom’s electoral history reflects its volatility, with significant shifts seen between 2016 and 2021. The BJP is optimistic, drawing on trends from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where Chandrasekhar led in the Nemom segment. With three strong contenders and changing voter dynamics, Nemom emerges as the focal point of Kerala’s electoral landscape.
