Kerala Assembly polls 2026 | There was no young candidate on NCP’s final list to challenge my candidature in Elathur: A.K. Saseendran

The LDF candidate for the Elathur Assembly constituency, despite protests from some within the Nationalist Congress Party, decided to contest after the party finalized his name for a winnable seat. A farmer's candidate has emerged in the urban constituency, citing concerns of upland farmers. The candidate believes that the government has taken sufficient measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict and that climate change must be considered when addressing it. The LDF government has implemented several initiatives such as the appointment of tribal youths as Beat Forest Officers and revised compensation for families of those killed in wildlife attacks, but the candidate also criticizes rival parties for declining commitment to democratic principles.