A significant electoral battle is unfolding in Peravoor, Kerala, as the CPI-M nominates K.K. Shailaja to compete against state Congress President Sunny Joseph in the upcoming Assembly elections. Shailaja, a prominent figure for the Left, initially hesitated to leave her current constituency, Mattannur, where she secured a remarkable victory in 2021 with a record margin of over 60,000 votes.
The decision to field Shailaja in Peravoor was finalized by the Kannur district leadership after internal deliberations. In contrast to her stronghold in Mattannur, Peravoor poses a different political landscape as Sunny Joseph, a three-time MLA, clinched consecutive wins from the constituency in 2021. Notably, Joseph had defeated Shailaja in Peravoor back in 2011 during his debut in the Assembly.
Despite the challenge posed by Joseph, Shailaja gained national acclaim as the Health Minister during the Covid-19 crisis, leading Kerala’s containment efforts effectively. Her success in the 2021 Assembly elections propelled her political stature, although recent setbacks, including exclusion from the second Vijayan cabinet and a defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, have marked her journey.
The unexpected shift of Shailaja’s campaign from Mattannur to Peravoor has added intrigue to the electoral dynamics. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan expressed confidence in Joseph’s victory in Peravoor, emphasizing that the CPI-M’s decision to field Shailaja there could be perceived as sidelining her. As the campaign intensifies, Peravoor anticipates a closely contested election in the upcoming Assembly polls.
