Engrossing battle between a veteran, newbie and a turncoat in this reserved constituency

While the Congress-led UDF is hoping to maintain its dominance, the CPI(M)-led LDF is keen on wresting the Mavelikara (SC reserved) seat, which it last won in 2004

It is no exaggeration to say that the Mavelikara (SC reserved) Lok Sabha constituency is in for an engrossing poll battle.

The Parliament segment is spread across three districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Kottayam and covers seven Assembly constituencies from low-lying Kuttanad to Pathanapuram.

The key question is whether the electorate votes for continuity or change in the upcoming polls.

While the Congress-led UDF is hoping to maintain its dominance, the CPI(M)-led LDF is keen on wresting the seat, which it last won in 2004. The BJP-led NDA, which fared reasonably well in 2019, is a force to reckon with in Mavelikara.

Historically the constituency is not considered a bastion of anyone but has mostly supported the UDF and the Congress. Since its inception in 1962, Mavelikara has elected Congress nominees or party-supported candidates 11 times in 15 elections.

It underwent a major delimitation process twice, the last time in 2008 and became a Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seat following the dissolution of the Adoor Lok Sabha constituency (SC reserved).

After redrawing boundaries, senior Congress leader Kodikunnil Suresh is the only one to have represented Mavelikara in the Lower House winning elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019. In 2019, Mr. Kodikkunnil defeated his nearest rival Chittayam Gopakumar of the CPI by a margin of 61,138 votes. Before moving to Mavelikara, Mr. Kodikunnil had contested from Adoor six times and won four elections.