Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Nemom, the constituency on the outskirts of Kerala's capital, is once again emerging as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The seat first drew national attention in 2016 when the BJP opened its account in Kerala with a historic win after decades of attempts. Veteran O. Rajagopal defeated V. Sivankutty, now the General Education Minister, to secure the seat. However, the BJP's foothold proved short-lived, as Sivankutty reclaimed Nemom for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in a closely fought contest in 2021.
As the 2026 elections approach, the constituency appears set for another intense and unpredictable contest. The LDF has fielded sitting MLA and General Education Minister V. Sivankutty, while the BJP has nominated its state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar as the NDA candidate. Chandrasekhar was fielded by the BJP from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but lost to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor by 16,077 votes. However, with Chandrasekhar now at the helm of the party in the State, the BJP is positioning him as a prominent new face in Kerala politics. Party leaders are optimistic that his candidature could help the NDA regain the Nemom seat.
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The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is yet to announce its nominee, adding to the suspense. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Congress is considering fielding activist Rahul Easwar from Nemom, with discussions reportedly held with him as the party explores its options. However, according to reports on Wednesday, former MLA K. S. Sabarinathan is likely to enter the electoral fray.
Nemom's electoral history over the past two decades reflects shifting political dynamics. The Congress had won the seat in 2006, but its decision to allot it to ally Janata Dal (United) in 2016 proved costly, with the candidate managing only a limited vote share and paving the way for the BJP's landmark victory. Sivankutty, despite improving his vote tally that year, lost to veteran BJP leader O. Rajagopal.
In 2021, the Congress attempted to regain lost ground by fielding K. Muraleedharan, turning the contest into a high-stakes triangular battle. The BJP ran an aggressive campaign, but the LDF ultimately edged ahead, winning by a margin of 3,949 votes.
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Despite that setback, the BJP enters the 2026 race with renewed confidence. The party performed strongly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the Nemom segment and followed it up with a solid showing in the 2025 local body polls, securing a majority of wards within the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation that fall under the constituency. Its vote share in the Assembly segment also saw a significant rise.
However, past trends may temper expectations. The BJP had recorded a substantial vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well, only to fall short in the subsequent Assembly polls.
The 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, the Election Commission of India announced on Sunday, with the counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4.
The Model Code of Conduct came into place on Sunday, setting in process elections to the 140-member State Assembly, also known as Kerala Niyamasabha.
The tenure of the current assembly is scheduled to end on May 23, 2026.