Kannur's two rebel CPI-M veterans win Assembly seats, settle into new roles
Synopsis
In Kannur — the CPI-M's most fortified bastion in Kerala — two of the party's own veterans turned rebel, defeated official Left candidates with UDF support, and are now finding their footing as legislators. T.K. Govindan's win over the CPI-M state Secretary's wife at Thaliparambu made it more than just an electoral upset; it was a statement about how personal equations can crack even the most entrenched political machines.
Key Takeaways
Kunjikrishnan defeated sitting CPI-M MLA T.I.
Madhusoodhan in Payyannur , backed by the Congress-led UDF .
Govindan won in Thaliparambu , defeating P.K.
Shyamala , wife of CPI-M state Secretary M.V.
Both leaders are veteran CPI-M figures from Kannur , the party's strongest organisational base in Kerala .
Kunjikrishnan has since set up a constituency office after early logistical difficulties.
Both legislators say their focus is now on delivering for constituents and performing in the Kerala Assembly .
Two veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders from Kannur — long regarded as the party's most impenetrable organisational stronghold in Kerala — have scripted an unlikely political chapter, defeating their former party's official candidates to enter the state Assembly with the backing of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
V. Kunjikrishnan and T.K. Govindan, both deeply rooted in Kannur's Left politics, are now settling into their new roles as elected legislators, months after upending one of India's most entrenched cadre-based political machines.
Kunjikrishnan's Payyannur upset
Kunjikrishnan defeated sitting CPI-M MLA T.I. Madhusoodhan in the Payyannur constituency — a result that sent shockwaves through the Left's Kannur apparatus. Speaking from inside the Assembly, he said conditions on the ground and within the House have since stabilised.
'Things are fine now, both in my constituency and on the floor of the House,' Kunjikrishnan said. He acknowledged that the early weeks after assuming charge were logistically demanding, with the basic task of establishing a constituency office proving difficult. 'I have now managed to get an office for myself in my constituency. Initially, there were issues, but now things have changed,' he added.
Govindan's symbolic win at Thaliparambu
At Thaliparambu, T.K. Govindan delivered what many observers consider the more politically charged upset of the two: he defeated P.K. Shyamala, wife of CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan. The constituency had previously been represented by M.V. Govindan himself, giving the result an added layer of symbolic significance for the Left in Kannur.
T.K. Govindan said the initial period after his victory came with its share of difficulties, but that he is now firmly focused on his legislative responsibilities. 'Yes, there were issues, but as things appear now, it seems to have changed. I will be doing my job for my people in my constituency, and I will use the Assembly for it,' he said.
What the victories reveal about Kannur's politics
Kannur has for decades been a district where the CPI-M commands a formidable cadre network, making electoral defections of this scale rare. The victories of both Kunjikrishnan and T.K. Govindan highlight the weight of personal credibility, local acceptance, and political realignments in cracking even the most fortified party strongholds.
Notably, both legislators won with UDF support — underscoring how tactical cross-bloc cooperation can reshape outcomes in constituencies where ideological loyalty had long been assumed to be absolute.
What comes next
With the electoral battles behind them, both legislators say their attention is now squarely on constituency work and their performance inside the Assembly. Their ability to deliver for voters — without the organisational infrastructure of the party machinery that once backed them — will be the defining test of their new political innings.
Point of View
Can rebel MLAs sustain constituency service across a full term? The real verdict on these upsets will come not at the next election, but in the mid-term satisfaction of voters who backed individuals over ideology.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are V. Kunjikrishnan and T.K. Govindan?
They are two veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders from Kannur, Kerala, who contested and won Assembly seats against their former party's official candidates, with support from the Congress-led UDF. Both have deep roots in Kannur's Left political landscape.
How did V. Kunjikrishnan win the Payyannur seat?
Kunjikrishnan defeated sitting CPI-M MLA T.I. Madhusoodhan in Payyannur with backing from the UDF. The win was considered one of the significant political upsets from Kannur in the recent Assembly elections.
Why is T.K. Govindan's win at Thaliparambu considered symbolically significant?
T.K. Govindan defeated P.K. Shyamala, the wife of CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan, in Thaliparambu — a constituency that M.V. Govindan himself had previously represented. The result carries particular symbolic weight for the Left in Kannur.
What challenges did both legislators face after winning?
Both Kunjikrishnan and T.K. Govindan acknowledged early difficulties after assuming charge, including logistical hurdles like setting up constituency offices. Both say conditions have since improved and they are now focused on their legislative responsibilities.
What do these wins say about the CPI-M's hold on Kannur?
The victories suggest that personal credibility, local acceptance, and cross-bloc political alliances can challenge even deeply entrenched cadre-based organisations. Kannur has long been the CPI-M's strongest base in Kerala, making these results an unusual crack in the party's organisational fortress.
