The Kerala Lens
Kerala is a small state on India’s southwestern coast, known for its high literacy rate, beautiful backwaters and beaches, large expatriate community in the Gulf, and one of the most politically active and ideologically diverse democracies in the world.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of any election is the personality of the candidates themselves. While ideology and party platforms matter, integrity, character, and personal appeal often prove decisive — from the US presidential race to Kerala’s fiercely contested local polls.
Joe Biden’s advanced age and visible frailty became a decisive liability, prompting his withdrawal from the 2024 race and paving the way for Donald Trump’s victory. Similarly, in New York’s 2025 mayoral election, Zohran Mamdani’s charismatic presence and energetic campaign — more than his socialist platform — delivered a striking win in a tight contest.
Kerala’s 2026 Assembly election is now approaching with unusual intensity. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is fighting to achieve a historic third consecutive term, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is desperate to reclaim power after losing it in 2016 — a full decade ago.
The ruling LDF enjoys the advantage of its widely publicized social welfare schemes and visible infrastructure projects. The UDF, however, hopes to ride a strong anti-incumbency wave, particularly among the middle class and business communities who desire a more flexible administration.
As candidate lists take shape, one name has generated particular curiosity: P. V. Anvar, a former LDF MLA and a well-known political turncoat. Anvar, who first entered the Assembly as an independent supported by the Left in Nilambur (2016 and 2021), fell out with the CPM leadership over policy differences and alleged interference. He dramatically resigned from the Nilambur seat in January 2025.
After briefly exploring an alliance with the DMK and then joining the Trinamool Congress, Anvar eventually became an associate member of the UDF. It is now confirmed that he will contest the upcoming election from Beypore as an independent candidate with UDF backing.
This is no small challenge. Beypore has long been an LDF stronghold, anchored by the powerful influence of communist trade unions among the working-class and fishing communities. The sitting MLA, Muhammed Riyas — son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — won the seat in 2021 with a substantial margin of over 28,000 votes.
Riyas, a Kozhikode native, is no stranger to the constituency. As Minister for Public Works and Tourism, he has delivered visible projects, including the Cheruvannur overbridge and the redevelopment of Beypore beach, which have strengthened his local image.
Yet anti-incumbency remains a real threat. Many middle-class voters and small traders feel stifled by the current government’s approach and are yearning for change — hoping a Congress-led administration would offer a more business-friendly and flexible environment.
Beypore itself is quite different from Anvar’s home turf. While Nilambur lies in the hilly, agriculture-dominated regions of Malappuram district — where farmers worry about crops, market prices, and land issues — Beypore is a semi-urban coastal constituency on the outskirts of Kozhikode city. Its economy and culture revolve around the Arabian Sea, the Beypore fishing harbour, port-related activities, and daily ties to urban Kozhikode.
For Anvar, this represents a completely new terrain — different topography, different livelihood concerns, and a different political culture. Winning here would require overcoming not just a formidable sitting MLA but also decades of left-wing organisational strength.
Still, history offers a sliver of hope: the UDF did win Beypore twice — in 1977 and 1980. In Kerala’s volatile political landscape, where anti-incumbency has toppled governments repeatedly, nothing is impossible.
Anvar is clearly determined. Whether his personal appeal, financial resources, and the broader UDF wave can crack one of the Left’s most reliable fortresses remains one of the most intriguing questions of the 2026 Kerala election.
The writer is a Kerala-based journalist with long experience in print and digital media. A keen observer of the state’s political and social landscape, he writes on politics, public policy, and contemporary issues, with a focus on ground-level realities and electoral dynamics.