Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a recent pre-poll opinion survey by Mathrubhumi and P-MARQ (Politique Marquer) suggests an edge for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.
The survey, encompassing data from 14 constituencies out of the state’s 20, was carried out between March 3 and 17 with a substantial participation of 25,821 individuals.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the UDF secured victory in 19 out of 20 seats, with 15 seats won by the Indian National Congress (INC) and the remaining by its allies. The LDF managed to secure victory in Alappuzha.
According to the survey findings, the UDF alliance, which currently consists of the Indian National Congress, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Jacob), Revolutionary Socialist Party, and a variety of other smaller parties, is projected to secure a significant number of seats, with the Communist Party of India-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) expected to claim only three to four seats.
As per Mathrubhumi’s survey, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to get zero seats in Kerala.
ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Polls: K Annamalai, Tamilisai Soundararajan in BJP’s Third List
Breaking down the survey’s constituency-wise predictions, the UDF is foreseen to win in prominent constituencies such as Thiru-Samantha-Puram, Ka-saragod, Attingal, Chal-study, Wayanad, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Malappuram, and Kottayam.
Meanwhile, the LDF alliance, consisting of CPI(M), CPI, and various smaller parties, is expected to emerge victorious in Vadakara, Palakkad, and Kannur. Mavelikara presents a closely contested battle in which both alliances stand an equal chance.
The survey highlights a noteworthy aspect: the projected victory of the UDF in Alappuzha, the sole constituency won by the LDF in the previous 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The survey suggests that UDF candidate KC Venugopal will likely secure the seat with a projected 41% vote share, followed closely by the incumbent MP AM Ariff (38%) and NDA’s Sobha Surendran (19%).
The spotlight is also on Wayanad, where prominent national figures from UDF and LDF are contesting. The survey indicates a favourable outcome for UDF’s Rahul Gandhi, with a commanding 60% projected vote share, followed by LDF’s Annie Raja with 24%. The NDA candidate has yet to be announced.
Vada-kara is characterized as an ‘A’ class constituency. The survey predicts a closely contested battle between Congress’ Shafi Parambil and former Kerala Health Minister and CPI(M) leader KK Shailaja, with Shailaja expected to secure the seat with a projected 41% vote share.
Some significant constituency predictions:
• Thiruvananthapuram: UDF’s Shashi Tharoor led with 37%, followed by LDF’s Pannyan Raveendran with 34% and NDA’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar with 27%.
• Pathanamthitta: UDF’s Anto Antony is projected at 33%, LDF’s Thomas Isaac, and NDA’s Anil Antony are tied at 31% each.
• Palakkad: LDF’s A Vijayaraghavan leading with 38%, followed by UDF’s V K Sreekandan with 36% and NDA’s C Krishnakumar with 24%.
• Kannur: UDF’s K Sudhakaran with 42%, LDF’s MV Jayarajan with 39 %, NDA’s C Raghunath with 17%
• Attingal: UDF’s Adoor Prakash with 36 %, LDF’s V Joy with 32 %, NDA’s V Muralidharan with 29%
Kerala is gearing up for voting in the second phase on April 26th, with results being declared on June 4th.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
