Multiple factors contributed to the defeat of T.P. Ramakrishnan, Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener, against Fathima Thahiliya of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Perambra in Kozhikode.
Ms. Thahiliya bagged 81,429 votes against Mr. Ramakrishnan, who got 76,342 votes, becoming the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) first woman MLA. Her margin of victory is 5,087 votes.
Soon after Ms. Thahiliya, the incumbent councillor from Kuttichira in the Kozhikode Corporation, began her campaign, former Minister and LDF candidate from Kozhikode South, Ahammad Devarkovil, claimed in an interview that she was a nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. This was followed by a campaign announcement by the LDF with alleged communal overtones against her. Though Mr. Ramakrishnan reportedly expressed his displeasure over these developments, the UDF was able to portray this as the LDF’s attempt to communally polarise the campaigning.
Published – May 04, 2026 09:08 pm IST
