PAYYANUR: In a historic shift in one of Kannur’s most secure political strongholds, independent candidate V. Kunjikrishnan, backed by the Congress party, has secured a stunning victory in the Payyanur assembly constituency. Kunjikrishnan, a former CPM Area Secretary, defeated the sitting MLA and CPM candidate T.I. Madhusoodanan by a decisive margin of 7,487 votes.
Election Results at a Glance
- V. Kunjikrishnan (Independent/UDF Support): 76,640 votes
- T.I. Madhusoodanan (CPM/LDF): 69,153 votes
- Winning Margin: 7,487 votes
A Dramatic Shift in Political Leanings
The scale of this upset is underlined by the previous election results. In 2021, T.I. Madhusoodanan won the Payyanur seat with a massive majority of 49,780 votes. The current result represents a significant swing in public sentiment, with Kunjikrishnan successfully breaching what has long been considered an impenetrable “party fort” in Kannur.
Kunjikrishnan’s transition from a prominent local CPM leader to a winning opposition-backed candidate marks a pivotal moment in the region’s political landscape.
