A majority of the incumbent MLAs in Kozhikode district are likely to be fielded again for the upcoming Assembly polls in the State.
There are 13 Assembly constituencies in the district and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has 11 representatives. The others belong to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP).
In the LDF, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] will have to find a replacement for Kanathil Jameela (Koyilandy), who passed away in December last year. Also, E.K. Vijayan, CPI leader and three-time MLA for Nadapuram, is unlikely to contest the election considering the term-limit imposed for candidature by his party. P. Gavas, CPI Kozhikode district secretary, is among the contenders for the seat.
Among the others, it is not yet clear if Nationalist Congress Party leader (NCP) and Minister for Forest and Wildlife A.K. Saseendran will be fielded again from Elathur. A section within his party has already staked its claim for the seat pointing out Mr. Saseendran’s advanced age and his consecutive terms in the Assembly and the State Cabinet. There are also talks about the CPI(M) taking over the seat in view of the party’s strong roots there and allocating some other seat to the NCP.
CPI(M) leader Thottathil Raveendran, MLA for Kozhikode North, has reportedly expressed his wish to keep off from the electoral contest this time. However, his party is yet to take a decision on the demand. It remains to be seen if the CPI(M) will relax the mandatory two-term condition for Perambra MLA and LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan, who has been representing the segment since 2016.
Though LDF Independent MLA P.T.A. Raheem (Kunnamangalam) is likely to get another chance, there are rumours about fielding him from Koduvally, right now represented by M.K. Muneer of the IUML. There is unlikely to be any change in the candidature of Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas (Beypore), K.M. Sachindev (Balussery), Linto Joseph (Thiruvambady), and K.P. Kunhamedkutty (Kuttiyadi), the other CPI(M) MLAs from the district. Ahammed Devarkovil of the Indian National League (Kozhikode South), also may get another chance.
In the UDF, the RMP is all set to field K.K. Rema from Vadakara again. The party, an associate of the UDF, is also reportedly planning to seek more seats to contest highlighting its major role in the front’s electoral victories in the local body polls as well as consecutive Lok Sabha polls. Though Dr. Muneer is reportedly facing health issues, the IUML is yet to clarify if he will throw his hat into the electoral ring again. There are already rumours about a demand to shift him to Kozhikode South, from where he had been elected in the past.
Published – January 18, 2026 07:44 pm IST
