The Thrithala Assembly constituency in Palakkad district is set to be a key political battleground in Keralam's 2026 election, featuring a high-stakes rematch between MB Rajesh of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress leader VT Balram.

BJP candidate V Unnikrishnan is also aiming to play a significant third-party role.

The contest is intensified by the rivalry between Rajesh and Balram, who had a closely fought battle in 2021 where Rajesh won by a margin of approximately 3,000 votes. The upcoming election will test voter loyalties in a constituency known for its unpredictability.

Thrithala, Assembly Constituency number 49, is a general seat in Pattambi Taluk and is part of the Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency. It is among the 140 legislative assembly constituencies in Keralam and has recorded consistently high voter turnout.

Traditionally a Congress stronghold due to its grassroots organisation, the constituency shifted in 2021 when the Left Democratic Front, led by CPI(M), won Thrithala, making it a swing seat.

MB Rajesh, born in 1971, is a senior CPI(M) leader and the current MLA for Thrithala. He served as Member of Parliament from Palakkad between 2009 and 2019 before shifting to state politics. After winning Thrithala in 2021, he briefly served as Speaker of the Keralam Legislative Assembly and now holds the portfolio of Minister for Local Self-Governments, Excise, and Parliamentary Affairs, overseeing Panchayats, municipalities, rural development, and town planning. As of April 2026, he is focusing on initiatives such as agricultural tourism in his constituency.

His opponent, VT Balram, born in 1978, is a prominent Congress leader who represented Thrithala for two consecutive terms in 2011 and 2016. Currently Vice President of the Keralam Pradesh Congress Committee, he has held various organisational roles within the party. Known for his grassroots connection and vocal style, Balram seeks a comeback as the United Democratic Front candidate in 2026 after his narrow defeat in 2021.

BJP candidate V Unnikrishnan represents the party's ongoing efforts to expand in Keralam. Although BJP has traditionally ranked third in Thrithala, maintaining a consistent vote share around 8 to 10 percent, its votes could be decisive in a tightly contested election.

In the 2021 Keralam Assembly elections, MB Rajesh secured 69,814 votes (46 percent), narrowly defeating VT Balram, who received 66,798 votes (44 percent). The victory margin was approximately 3,016 votes (2 percent). BJP's Sanku T Das finished third with 12,851 votes (8.5 percent). The voter turnout was high at 82.97 percent from an electorate of 183,566.

In contrast, in 2016, VT Balram won comfortably with 66,505 votes (47.3 percent), defeating CPI(M) candidate Subaida Ishac, who obtained 55,958 votes (39.8 percent). The victory margin was 10,547 votes (7.5 percent) with the BJP candidate receiving 14,510 votes (10.3 percent). Turnout that year was 79.02 percent.