UDF’s V T Balram has reclaimed the Thrithala Assembly constituency with a comfortable margin of 8,385 votes, marking a decisive comeback against LDF’s M B Rajesh in a closely watched contest.

Balram secured a total of 76,427 votes, while Rajesh polled 68,042. NDA candidate V Unnikrishnan Master finished a distant third with 15,051 votes. From the outset of counting, Balram maintained a steady lead, never relinquishing his advantage through successive rounds.

The result marks a reversal of the 2021 Assembly election, when Rajesh had defeated Balram by 3,016 votes, once again highlighting Thrithala’s shifting political pattern.

Reacting to the win, Balram said the margin was in line with his expectations. “I had been saying that I would win by a bigger margin than what I lost by last time. What we have secured now is a solid margin for Thrithala,” he said. He added that the result also reflected the UDF’s broader confidence going into the polls. “We had said the UDF would cross 100 seats, and that Thrithala would be one of them. That has come true.”

Rajesh, conceding defeat, maintained a composed tone. “Elections are part of a political battle. I congratulate the winner. I am not taking this loss personally,” he said. Defending his tenure, he added, “Over the past five years, I have carried out significant development work in Thrithala and fulfilled my responsibilities to the best of my ability.” He also underlined the party’s resilience. “We are communists. Even in defeat, we will continue to stand with the people,” he said.

The campaign in Thrithala was shaped by competing narratives around development and governance. The LDF highlighted projects worth over ₹1,100 crore, focusing on infrastructure, healthcare and connectivity. The UDF, however, challenged these claims, arguing that several local issues remained unresolved.

Concerns around delayed paddy procurement emerged as a key issue in this agrarian constituency, alongside unemployment, irrigation challenges and problems faced by Pravasi families. Road conditions in certain areas also figured prominently in campaign discussions.

The contest also saw sharp exchanges, including Rajesh publicly challenging Balram to a debate, which the latter declined, opting instead to emphasise his past tenure through a targeted social media campaign. With over 10,000 new voters in the fray, both sides had viewed the constituency as finely balanced going into polling day.

Local body dynamics added another layer of complexity. While the UDF currently governs five of the eight panchayats in the constituency, the LDF holds the remaining three. Despite these mixed signals, Balram’s consistent lead from the early stages of counting ultimately translated into a clear victory, reaffirming the constituency’s tendency to swing between the two fronts.