The Aranmula Assembly constituency has emerged as one of the most closely watched seats in the April 9 Kerala Assembly elections, with all three major fronts – the LDF, UDF, and NDA – engaged in a tight contest.
Aranmula, known for its unique alloy mirrors and the Uthrattathi Jalamela boat race, is witnessing a fierce political battle.
The incumbent MLA and state Health Minister, Veena George of the LDF (CPM), is seeking re-election from the constituency. She is up against UDF’s Congress nominee Abin Varkey and NDA’s BJP candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Veena George of the CPM secured victory with 74,950 votes, accounting for 46.5 per cent of the total votes. She defeated Congress candidate K. Sivadasan Nair, who garnered 55,947 votes (34.7 per cent), while BJP candidate Biju Mathew finished third with 29,099 votes, securing around 18 per cent vote share.
The LDF is leaning heavily on Veena George’s decade-long personal connect with voters, backed by the development push in the constituency.
A first-time entrant in 2016, she returned with an increased majority in the subsequent election. The front is also foregrounding her tenure as Health Minister, betting that her governance record will translate into electoral support.
Youth Congress national secretary Abin Varkey’s candidature has energised the Congress camp, which is now focused on consolidating its base and ironing out internal dissent. The UDF has succeeded in turning public anger over alleged lapses in the health sector into a key campaign issue here.
It may be noted that the family of Usha Joseph, who was reportedly affected by a serious surgical error at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital, handed over a contribution equivalent to Abin Varkey’s security deposit.
After experiencing fluctuating fortunes in the constituency, the BJP is making a renewed push by fielding senior party leader and former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan.
The BJP’s vote share has varied over the years—from 10,227 votes in 2011 to a peak of 37,906 votes in 2016, before dropping to 21,099 in 2021. With Kummanam’s entry, the party hopes to regain lost ground and expand its base, potentially making the contest more competitive.
The BJP camp believes that by banking on Kummanam Rajasekharan’s long association with Aranmula and his deep familiarity with local voters, it can make significant inroads in the constituency.
Meanwhile, the LDF is leveraging its governance record and developmental milestones to secure a third consecutive term, with Veena George highlighting achievements in public health, infrastructure, flood management, and river rejuvenation.
Securing another term would mark a landmark “hat-trick” for the LDF in a district typically characterised by anti-incumbency. While the LDF maintains a strategic edge through its traditional base—notably within the Orthodox community—the UDF and BJP are actively attempting to challenge this long-standing dominance.