Kerala Assembly elections 2026: In Kalamassery, emotions meet electioneering as candidates knock doors

At Chenakkala adjacent HMT Junction successful Kalamassery, the CPI(M)’s P. Rajeeve concisely paused his run for an affectional sojourn to ‘Ushus’, a humble brick-red house, wherever helium met his erstwhile teacher, 94-year-old E.K. Gangadharan. The nonagenarian, who taught Rajeeve astatine Government Polytechnic College, Kalamassery, waited eagerly contempt frailty, handed implicit a currency contribution, and blessed his erstwhile student.

“My begetter had a infirmary assignment successful the morning, but helium chose to hold till Mr. Rajeeve passed by. He is truthful fond of Mr. Rajeeve, who makes it a constituent to sojourn america each clip helium comes here,” said his girl Nanditha.

keralaSuch moments punctuated the intimately watched Kalamassery contest. Chenakkala was the 5th halt of Mr. Rajeeve’s Friday (March 27, 2026) roadshow. He earlier received a reception astatine Pallilamkara, wherever his stump code focussed connected improvement initiatives, including upgrades to the Government Medical College Hospital, anganwadis, schools, higher acquisition institutions, and caller concern units.

“Once the projected Judicial City becomes a reality, metro connectivity volition person to beryllium expanded. HMT Junction roadworthy has to beryllium widened to six lane, and Seaport-Airport Road volition necessitate a flyover. All these improvement works necessitate continuity,” helium said.

“The earlier MLA from this constituency was the Public Works Minister, but not adjacent an inch of onshore could beryllium acquired from HMT oregon NAD for improvement of Seaport-Airport Road. Now, each issues person been resolved,” helium added.

Ten kilometres distant astatine Kadungalloor, IUML campaigner V.E. Abdul Gafoor, lad of precocious V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, the erstwhile Public Works Minister, offered a contrasting view. “The Minister makes gangly claims astir improvement and presents large figures. But we don’t spot immoderate improvement connected the ground,” said Mr. Gafoor, referring to Mr. Rajeeve’s speech. He is contesting from Kalamassery for the 2nd clip aft losing successful 2021.

During a door-to-door run astatine Kadungalloor connected Friday morning, Mr. Gafoor encountered an affectional infinitesimal astatine the location of octogenarian Sivan Moothedath, who precocious mislaid his son. The aged couple, successful tears, complained astir not getting societal information pension. Local leaders attributed it to a method issue, portion Mr. Gafoor assured resolution. “Take his connection conscionable arsenic his father’s,” a section person told them.

The United Democratic Front run has been consciously invoking memories of Mr. Kunju, who represented the constituency from 2011 to 2021. Kunju’s governmental vocation suffered aft his apprehension successful the Palarivattom flyover corruption lawsuit successful 2020. “People cognize the information now. Several bridges collapsed aft that, and cipher was arrested,” Mr. Gafoor said.

Later successful the day, helium led a roadshow from Thadikkakadavu Junction to Manjaly.

BJP-led National Democratic Front (NDA) campaigner M.P. Binu besides conducted door-to-door run successful and astir Kadungalloor. A person of the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, a cardinal BJP ally, Mr. Binu seeks to regain mislaid crushed aft the NDA’s ballot stock dipped to 7.2% successful 2021 from 15.6% successful 2016. Visiting households successful Velinjil Mana, the household of priests of the Narasimha Swamy Temple astatine Kadungalloor, helium said his promises included ensuring benefits of cardinal payment schemes, revitalising Kalamassery’s concern basal and cleaning the Periyar. He aboriginal toured Eloorkkara and Uliyannoor.