Kothamangalam sees a pro-incumbency wave

Sitting MLA Antony John of the CPI(M) retains seat by a margin of 6,605 votes

A pro-incumbency wave was witnessed in Kothamangalam, which was traditionally a Congress bastion, where sitting MLA Antony John of the CPI(M) retained the seat by a margin of 6,605 votes over arch rival Shibu Thekkumpuram of the Kerala Congress (Joseph). Mr. John won a total of 64,234 votes, while Mr. Thekkumpuram won 57,629 votes. Dr. Joe Joseph, a medical doctor and son-in-law of Kerala Congress (Joseph) leader P.J. Joseph, who was fielded by Twenty20, who led a relatively silent campaign, came third winning 7,978 votes. Shine K. Krishnan of the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituent, got 4,638 votes. A total of 414 votes were for NOTA. Mr. John had won by a margin of 19,282 votes in 2016, defeating T.U. Kuruvilla of the Kerala Congress (Joseph).