Congress candidate and first-time entrant Ramesh Pisharody has won the Palakkad Assembly seat, defeating BJP’s Sobha Surendran by a margin of 13,147 votes after a closely fought contest marked by sharp swings during counting.

Reacting to the victory, Pisharody struck a grateful and measured tone. “This is not just a big win in Palakkad, but a significant win in Kerala. What makes democracy meaningful is respect for the people. They must always come first, and governance should reflect that,” he said, thanking voters and supporters for their backing. In a message shared on social media, he also acknowledged the role of party leadership, workers and well-wishers in securing the win.

Pisharody secured 62,199 votes in the final tally, while Surendran finished second with 49,052 votes. CPM-backed independent NMR Razak came third with 33,931 votes. The result capped a dramatic counting day, where early rounds had favoured Surendran before the lead shifted decisively towards Pisharody in the later stages.

What stood out in the contest was the sharp turnaround. Surendran led in the initial rounds and remained competitive through much of the early counting. By mid-morning, Pisharody had regained the lead, with the margin fluctuating briefly before widening steadily in his favour as counting progressed.

The result also reflects a broader trend in Palakkad, a constituency that has shown a tendency to swing between parties. In recent elections, the Congress has strengthened its position, particularly after the by-election triggered by Shafi Parambil’s resignation, which saw a clear UDF victory. Pisharody’s win builds on that momentum, reinforcing the party’s organisational depth in the constituency.

The campaign itself evolved into a tightly contested three-cornered battle. Sobha Surendran, one of the BJP’s most recognisable faces in Kerala, ran an aggressive campaign, drawing on her long association with Palakkad and her role in expanding the party’s vote base over the years. The BJP also sought to present a more coordinated front this time, addressing earlier internal factionalism.

However, there were indications that the NDA failed to consolidate its expected gains in key urban segments, including the municipality, where a dip in support was seen. This appears to have impacted Surendran’s final tally in what was otherwise a competitive race.

Pisharody, on the other hand, built steady momentum through an extensive ground campaign. His roadshows drew significant crowds, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas, while a strong booth-level network helped convert that outreach into votes. His campaign’s consistent engagement at the local level gave him a crucial edge as polling approached.

The LDF’s Razak focused on consolidating traditional support bases while attempting to expand into minority-dominated pockets. While he remained a distant third, his presence added another layer of complexity to the contest.

The Palakkad result, shaped by shifting leads and contrasting campaign strategies, ultimately turned on sustained ground mobilisation and late momentum, with Pisharody emerging ahead in one of the state’s most closely watched contests.