Ramesh Chennithala

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is seeking re-election from the Haripad constituency, a seat he has nurtured into a long-standing Congress stronghold.

A former Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, Chennithala first won Haripad in 1982 and has since established a firm grip over the constituency, securing multiple victories over the decades. He is now in the fray once again as the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, aiming to extend his winning streak after his third consecutive victory here in 2021.

In the last Assembly election, Chennithala polled 72,768 votes, defeating LDF candidate R Sajilal by a margin of 13,666 votes. His dominance was even more pronounced in 2016, when he won by 18,621 votes, securing 75,980 votes against CPI(M) leader P Prasad.

Haripad, located in Alappuzha district within the traditionally Left-leaning Onattukara region, has in recent years shown signs of shifting political currents. While the Left has historically wielded influence here, the Congress has maintained control of the seat, even as the BJP has stepped up its presence, making the contest increasingly competitive.

This time, Chennithala faces LDF candidate TT Jismon and BJP’s Sandeep Vachaspathi, with the NDA mounting an aggressive campaign backed by visits from its top leadership.

According to his nomination affidavit, Chennithala has declared assets worth over Rs 2.64 crore, including both movable and immovable properties. His wife has declared assets exceeding Rs 5.2 crore, including 1,440 grams of gold.

On the question of leadership, Chennithala has said that the party will take a final call on projecting a chief ministerial face, even as he underlined his long association with the Gandhi-Nehru family and decades of experience in public life.

Candidate Info: Ramesh Chennithala is the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate contesting from Haripad (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. This male candidate is 69 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.