Thiruvananthapuram, March 21 (NationPress) An interesting electoral trend is unfolding as Kerala approaches the Assembly elections scheduled for April 9. A total of 17 constituencies are set to experience rematches featuring the same winners and runners-up from the 2021 elections, reigniting political rivalries.

On April 9, Kerala will elect 140 new lawmakers, with the primary competition occurring between the Left and the Congress-led UDF, while the BJP-led NDA intensifies its struggle in approximately a dozen constituencies.

These rematches inject a sense of familiarity and unresolved issues into a highly charged electoral contest. Notably, Kunnathur emerges as a unique case, being the only constituency where all three major political fronts have nominated the same candidates from the last elections, creating a rare three-way contest.

Five-time legislator Kovoor Kunjumon will confront UDF's Ullas Kovoor and BJP's Raji Prasad, making this a key contest to watch. Additionally, four state ministers are also engaged in their own direct matches from 2021.

In Thrithala, Local Self Government Minister M.B. Rajesh will face off against Congress leader V.T. Balram. Meanwhile, at Irinjalakuda, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu is set to go against Thomas Unniyadan once more.

Industries Minister P. Rajeeve will meet IUML’s V.E. Gafoor in Kalamassery, while Transport Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar will again confront Congress’s Jyothikumar Chamakala in Pathanapuram.

Other contests are equally engaging.

In Chavara, RSP stalwart Shibhu Baby John aims for redemption against Sujith Vijayan Pillai (Left). The Manjeshwaram constituency will witness a close rematch between IUML’s sitting MLA AKM Ashraff and BJP leader K. Surendran, who narrowly lost in 2021.

High-profile contests can be found throughout the region, from Poonjar, where Sebastian Kulathunkal (Left) takes on P. C. George (BJP), to Aroor, where Dalima Jojo (CPI-M) will once again face Shanimol Usman (Congress).

With close margins like the 333-vote victory in Kuttiyadi, where sitting CPI M legislator K.P. Kunjuahammed Kutty is challenged by IUML leader Parakkal Abdullah, the stakes are high. The previous election saw Kunjuahammed Kutty win by a mere 333 votes.

These repeated contests are set to lead to intense campaigns, which have already commenced.

As familiar faces return, unresolved tensions and shifting political dynamics ensure that while the candidates may be the same, the results will be revealed on May 4.