Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Thrissur braces for a three-cornered thriller with no easy winner in sight

The Thrissur Assembly election is expected to be a three-cornered contest with the LDF fielding writer Alankode Leelakrishnan, the UDF presenting former Mayor Rajan Pallan, and the NDA relying on the star power of BJP candidate Padmaja Venugopal. Leelakrishnan hopes to capitalize on Thrissur's cultural significance while Pallan focuses on urban issues like traffic congestion and waterlogging. Venugopal argues for development projects to address unemployment in the constituency. The outcome will likely hinge on voter sentiment after the 2024 Lok Sabha election where the BJP made a breakthrough but failed to gain significant momentum in local elections.