V. Kunhikrishnan
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In a significant political upset, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] rebel and Independent candidate backed by the United Democratic Front (UDF) V. Kunhikrishnan defeated the CPI(M)’s T.I. Madhusoodanan in the Payyannur Assembly constituency by a decisive margin of 7,487 votes, marking the first major crack in the party’s traditional stronghold in Kannur.
Mr. Kunhikrishnan secured 76,640 votes, while Mr. Madhusoodanan was pushed to second place with 69,153 votes. The victory is notable as Mr. Madhusoodanan had registered a massive win in the 2021 Assembly election with a record margin of 49,780 votes, the highest ever recorded in the constituency.
Published – May 04, 2026 03:51 pm IST
