In the 2026 Assembly election, Kunnathunad emerged as one of the most closely watched seats in Ernakulam district, evolving from a relatively quiet SC-reserved constituency into one of Kerala’s most unpredictable political battlegrounds, mainly due to the entry of Twenty20 in the constituency as an ally of the NDA.

UDF candidate V P Sajeendran has won the seat with a comfortable margin of 21,283 votes over LDF’s sitting MLA P V Sreenijin. While Sreenijin secured 49,009 votes, Sajeendran polled 70,292. NDA-backed Twenty20 candidate Babu Divakaran secured 40,221 votes.

Pre-result projections had added to the intrigue, with the Manorama News–C Voter exit poll and the Onmanorama poll meter indicating an edge for Sajeendran — a trend that has been reflected in the final outcome.

Among all constituencies in Kerala, Kunnathunad recorded the highest voter turnout at 84.09% this time. The seat has consistently seen polling above 80% since 2011, underlining its reputation for strong voter participation.

Twenty20’s NDA move changes old equations
The most significant shift in Kunnathunad’s landscape was Twenty20’s official entry into the NDA. For a decade, Twenty20 maintained a strictly apolitical stance, projecting a corporate-driven development model that appealed to voters tired of conventional party rivalries. Its decision to formally align with the BJP altered the equations in a seat where caste, community and local credibility often matter more than broader statewide narratives.

UDF comeback after 2021 defeat
The UDF had reasons for confidence going into the election. Veteran leader V P Sajeendran returned with strong name recall, organisational experience and a reputation for accessibility that continues to carry weight across booths. Congress workers also pointed to reduced factional tensions compared to earlier cycles, while trends from recent local body polls suggested sections of its traditional support base had returned.

In a constituency with a significant Christian population, especially Jacobite Syrian Christian voters, and a small but decisive Muslim vote share, the Twenty20-BJP alliance was seen by many observers as a factor that could help the UDF consolidate secular and minority votes — an assessment that appears to have played out in the result.

Anti-incumbency catches up with Sreenijin
For the LDF, P V Sreenijin campaigned on development, highlighting road works, school upgrades and public infrastructure projects. However, he faced strong anti-incumbency, sustained criticism from rivals and questions over political momentum, especially after the Chief Minister skipped Kunnathunad during his Ernakulam campaign tour. That absence was used effectively by opponents as a sign that the Left was under pressure.

The result suggests that the LDF could not overcome these challenges, while the NDA was unable to fully consolidate Twenty20’s earlier vote base — tilting the advantage decisively towards Sajeendran.

In 2021, the constituency produced one of the most dramatic three-cornered verdicts in the district with the entry of Twenty20. Its candidate, Sujith P Surendran, polled 42,701 votes, a striking 27.56% share, splitting the anti-LDF vote. That helped Sreenijin win with 52,351 votes, defeating Sajeendran, who secured 49,636 votes. The margin was just 2,715 votes.

In 2016, Kunnathunad saw a tight straight fight between the UDF and LDF. Sajeendran won with 65,445 votes (44.13%), while CPM’s Shiji Shivaji finished close behind with 62,766 votes (42.32%). BDJS candidate Thuravoor Suresh came third with 16,459 votes, and Sajeendran retained the seat by a margin of 2,679 votes.

In 2011, Sajeendran had won more comfortably, polling 63,624 votes against CPM candidate M A Surendran’s 54,892. BJP candidate M Ravi remained a distant third with 5,862 votes. The Congress victory margin that year stood at 8,732 votes, highlighting how sharply the contest tightened over the past decade before widening again in 2026.