Kerala Assembly Polls 2026: Poll narrative to be shaped by issues ranging from energy crisis to developmental issues

Kerala is gearing up for its Assembly elections in April, with a range of issues expected to shape the poll narrative. Dr. D. Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), highlights developmental and governance concerns as well as controversies surrounding Sabarimala as key topics. Political analyst J. Prabhash believes that once candidate selection controversies are settled, issues like the gold theft at Sabarimala will resurface, with both the Left and Opposition parties likely to focus on anti-incumbency factors and alleged neglect by the Centre. The proposed strike by hoteliers protesting LPG shortage is also expected to become a major public concern.