CPM retains Manalur seat, C. Ravindranath wins with 65337 votes
Manalur Election Result Live: How are parties and alliances performing in the KOCHI region of Kerala?
What are the statuses of the key candidates in Kerala?
How are the political alliances performing in Kerala?
Manalur Election Result: C. Ravindranath leads in Manalur, T.N Prathapan trails
Manalur Election Result Live: How are parties and alliances performing in the KOCHI region of Kerala?
Manalur Assembly Constituency is located in the Thrissur district of Kerala. It is the 64th constituency out of 140 in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, and is a general or unreserved seat. For the national parliamentary elections, it forms a part of the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency.
Administrative and Geographical Profile
Located in central Kerala’s Thrissur district, the Manalur Assembly constituency comprises a mix of rural and semi-urban areas, typified by agricultural landscapes and rising market cities. It includes Arimpur and Manalur Panchayats in Thrissur Taluk; Choondal and Kandanassery Panchayats in Thalappilly Taluk; Elavally, Mullassery, Vatanappally, Pavaratty, Thaikkad and Venkitangu Panchayats in Chavakkad Taluk.
Voter Participation and the Electorate
Both rural and urban voters participated actively in the 2021 Kerala Assembly election, which saw a high voter turnout of between 75–76%. For the 2021 Assembly elections, there was a total of 222706 registered voters according to the official data from the Election Commission.
Representation and Political History
Competitive politics between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF), and occasionally the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have characterised Manalur's long electoral history. During the late 20th century and early 2000s, figures from the Indian National Congress, such as P. A. Madhavan and V. M. Sudheeran, represented the constituency, reflecting broader UDF strength in Thrissur district at that time. However, under the leadership of Murali Perunelly, who rose to prominence through a string of election victories, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has become increasingly competitive in recent decades.
Results of the 2021 Kerala Assembly Election
Murali Perunelly (CPI(M), LDF) won with 78,337 votes or about 46.77% of valid votes. He was followed by Vijay Hari (Indian National Congress, UDF) with 48,461 votes or about 28.93% vote share. A. N. Radhakrishnan (BJP, NDA) secured 36,566 votes or about 21.83% vote share. In a close three-front race, Murali Perunelly won the seat with a dominating margin of 29,876 votes, highlighting a clear mandate for the LDF. The outcome highlighted the CPI(M)’s revival in a seat historically fought by both the left and the Congress-led UDF.
Socioeconomic Features
Agriculture remains the predominant economic activity in Manalur, with many families reliant on paddy agriculture, coconut farming, vegetable production and other occupations. The movement of agricultural products is made easier by the area's closeness to coastal markets, while the surrounding cities' small businesses and service industries provide more job opportunities. Remittance from the Gulf is also a significant contributor to the local economy.
Voter Behaviour and Electoral Dynamics
Manalur’s electorate demonstrates dynamic voter behaviour, affected by both local concerns and broader ideological currents. In recent cycles, the LDF has gained the support of rural and working-class people. The UDF, particularly through the Indian National Congress, remains competitive, drawing backing from urbanised elements and old Congress voters. Despite not winning the constituency, the BJP (NDA) has made substantial progress, garnering sizable vote shares in 2021 and showing an increasing presence.
Key Local Issues and Concerns
Tourist Spots
(Sreya Prasad)
Vijay Hari
INC
A.N. Radhakrishnan
BJP
P.Faisal Ibrahim
SDPI
NOTA
NOTA
Devarajan Mookola
IND
Abhayan Manalur
BSP
O.Abdu Rahimankutty
INC
A.N.Radhakrishnan
BJP
Hussair.K.K
SDPI
NOTA
NOTA
Abhayan.N.A
BSP
Moidutty Haji
PDP
Shaji Kuriyan. Pananghat
IND
Soman Pillai
IND
