Long Wait Ends: V Muraleedharan Reclaims Kazhakoottam From CPI(M) in Narrow Finish

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader V. Muraleedharan has registered a narrow but politically significant victory in the Kazhakoottam constituency of Kerala, defeating sitting minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Kadakampally Surendran by just 428 votes. The tightly fought contest marked one of the closest finishes in the state, with results going down to the final rounds of counting.

The election saw repeated shifts in lead throughout the counting process, with Surendran holding a slim advantage even in the 16th round by 171 votes. However, the final round tilted in favour of Muraleedharan, as strong performance from BJP-dominated pockets helped him overturn the deficit. The result is being viewed as a symbolic breakthrough for the BJP in a constituency long considered a Left stronghold.

This victory is particularly notable given the constituency’s past electoral pattern. In the 2016 Assembly elections, Muraleedharan had lost to Surendran by 7,347 votes, while in the previous term, the margin had widened further to over 23,000 votes in favour of the Left. The reversal, therefore, represents a significant shift in voter sentiment and ground-level political dynamics in the region.

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Muraleedharan’s win is also seen as the result of sustained grassroots campaigning over nearly a decade. After his 2016 defeat, he reportedly remained active in the constituency, focusing on local outreach in areas such as Attipra, Kulathoor, and Mankuzhy, which have traditionally leaned towards the Left. His campaign strategy included repeated padyatras and direct voter engagement, aimed at building a more consistent local presence.

Community outreach also played a key role in the outcome. The BJP’s organisational efforts among Ezhava community voters and minority outreach groups are believed to have contributed to a shift in support. Additionally, Muraleedharan highlighted several issues during his campaign, including the Sabarimala gold controversy and governance concerns, which resonated with sections of the electorate.

Muraleedharan, who has had a long political journey through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and later the Bharatiya Janata Party’s organisational structure, has faced multiple electoral defeats before securing this victory. His entry into national politics came in 2018 with his nomination to the Rajya Sabha, followed by his appointment as Minister of State for External Affairs in 2019. His latest win is being seen within the party as a major morale booster in Kerala, where the BJP has historically struggled to expand its electoral footprint. Party observers say the result reflects both sustained organisational work and shifting local political equations, even in areas traditionally dominated by the Left.

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