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2006 Elections
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2021 elections
2026 elections
One of the less-noticed outcomes of
Kerala Assembly Election in 2026 was the record number of
votes won by women candidates.
As many as 95 women had contested and
together secured nearly 23.5 lakh votes and won 11 seats.
While some were “dummy” candidates with names resembling
prominent contestants, fielded to divert votes, about 35
women were serious contenders. The Indian Union Muslim
League fielded two women, and one made history by becoming
the party’s first-ever woman member of the Assembly.
Despite these achievements, women still
accounted for just over 10 per cent of the total
candidates and votes polled, and their representation in
the 140-member Assembly remains limited.
A record 107 women contested in 2016 but
together secured only about 1.85 lakh votes. In 2021,
101 women candidates contested, polling a slightly
higher 1.86 lakh votes. The 2026 election thus marks a
significant leap in both participation and voter support
for women candidates, even though their overall presence
in the Assembly continues to be modest.
Here are the top performers in terms votes
secured:
| C.
No. |
NAME |
PARTY | FRONT | VOTES |
| 83 | UMA THOMAS | INC | UDF | 83375 |
| 24 | ADV. FATHIMA THAHILIYA | IUML | UDF | 81429 |
| 8 | P K SHYAMALA TEACHER | CPIM | LDF | 78788 |
| 26 | ADV. VIDYA BALAKRISHNAN | INC | UDF | 77662 |
| 17 | USHA VIJAYAN | INC | UDF | 77425 |
| 22 | ADV.P. VASANTHAM | CPI | LDF | 76163 |
| 102 | ADV. SHANIMOL OSMAN | INC | UDF | 74469 |
| 20 | K K REMA | RMP | UDF | 70117 |
| 14 | JAYANTHI RAJAN | IUML | UDF | 69162 |
| 102 | DALEEMA | CPIM | LDF | 65145 |
| 124 | ADV. BINDHU KRISHNA | INC | UDF | 63416 |
| 119 | ADV. P. AISHA POTTY | INC | UDF | 62914 |
| 53 | THULASI TEACHER | INC | UDF | 62734 |
| 16 | K K SHAILAJA TEACHER | CPIM | LDF | 61687 |
| 108 | ADV. U. PRATHIBHA | CPIM | LDF | 61079 |
| 122 | J. CHINCHURANI | CPI | LDF | 60795 |
| 128 | O. S. AMBIKA | CPIM | LDF | 59163 |
| 53 | ADV. K. SANTHAKUMARI | CPIM | LDF | 59028 |
| 33 | DR. P. JIJI | CPIM | LDF | 58980 |
| 68 | GEETHA GOPI | CPI | LDF | 58979 |
| 129 | RAMYA HARIDAS | INC | UDF | 56833 |
| 70 | DR. R. BINDU | CPIM | LDF | 56070 |
| 116 | ADV. M. S. THARA | CPI | LDF | 55975 |
| 115 | PRIJI KANNAN | CPI | LDF | 55821 |
| 46 | PREETHI KONCHATH | CPIM | LDF | 55473 |
Picture shows K. R. Gouri, who served the Assembly for the longest period in its history, addressing the House in 1998, just before the Assembly moved into its present premises. Photo: Roy Mathew