Kottayam assembly election result 2026: In Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan vs Dr. Celine Philip vs Adv. K. Anilkumar, who is winning?

As vote counting for the Kerala Assembly elections is set to take place on May 4, a high-stakes contest is underway in Kottayam between Congress’s Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, AAAP’s Dr. Celine Philip, and CPI(M)’s Adv. K. Anilkumar.

Kottayam, located in central Kerala’s Kottayam district, falls under the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency and has been in existence since 1957, with its present boundaries shaped by the 2008 delimitation. The seat spans Kottayam municipality and adjoining semi-urban panchayats on the fringes of areas like Changanacherry and Puthuppally, and has an electorate of around 1.5 lakh voters.

All about the constituency

A mixed urban-rural constituency, Kottayam is known for its high literacy levels, strong presence of rubber plantations, and a significant Christian population, particularly Syrian Catholics. It is also a hub for publishing, education and healthcare, with several colleges and medical institutions, alongside eco-tourism linked to its backwaters and hill regions. Remittances from non-resident Keralites continue to play a key role in the local economy.


Politically, the seat has been a stronghold of the Kerala Congress (Jacob) faction within the UDF. Sitting MLA P.K. Jayalakshmi has held the constituency since 2016. In the 2021 Assembly election, she secured 63,708 votes (48.15%), defeating CPI(M)’s Paramjyothi S., who polled 48,631 votes, by a margin of over 15,000 votes. This built on her 2016 victory margin of nearly 11,000 votes.

The UDF’s advantage here has been reinforced by its traditional support base, including backing from sections of the Church, even as the LDF has periodically mounted strong challenges. The BJP, while not a primary contender, has maintained a vote share in the low-teens.

Kottayam Assembly elections: Check past results

2026

Candidate	Party	Status
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan	CONG	To Be Decided
Dr. Celine Philip	AAAP	To Be Decided
Adv. K. Anilkumar	CPI(M)	To Be Decided

2021

Candidate Name	Party	Result	Votes	Vote %
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan	INC	Won	65,401	53.72%
Adv. K. Anilkumar	CPI(M)	1st Runner Up	46,658	38.33%
Minerva Mohan	BJP	-	8,611	7.07%
NOTA	NOTA	-	473	0.39%

2016

Candidate	Party	Result	Votes	Vote %
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan	INC	Won	73,894	57.46
Adv. Reji Sakhariya	CPM	1st Runner Up	40,262	31.31
Adv. M. S. Karunakaran	BJP	-	12,582	9.78
Adv. P. K. Geetha Krishnan	BSP	-	651	0.51

What are key issues?

Key issues in the constituency include distress among rubber farmers due to price fluctuations and wildlife incursions, youth unemployment despite a strong education ecosystem, recurring monsoon flooding in low-lying areas, traffic congestion in the town centre, and concerns over water availability. Voters have also been seeking improved infrastructure, including better roads, IT investment and upgraded public facilities.

These factors continue to shape electoral outcomes in Kottayam, making it a politically competitive yet UDF-leaning constituency in central Kerala.