Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Assaults and confrontations shadow voting in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta

Tensions rise in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta during Kerala's 2026 Assembly polls, with assaults and confrontations reported amid voting.

Even as polling in the central Travancore districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta remained largely peaceful on Thursday, the day saw a few tense incidents involving clashes between rival political groups and confrontations with the police.

In Pallickal, Adoor, in Pathanamthitta, a group of alleged Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers attacked several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and ransacked a BJP booth committee office in the morning. The Adoor police have registered a case of attempted murder and an investigation is under way.

According to the complaint, around 30 CPI(M) workers stormed the BJP booth committee office at Alummoodu, assaulting the BJP workers, including Mohanan, general secretary of the Karshaka Morcha. The injured workers were admitted to hospital. BJP district committee president V.A. Sooraj visited the site and demanded strict action against the perpetrators. “The attack was part of an attempt by the CPI(M) to intimidate voters into casting their ballots in their favour,” he said.

In another incident, Poonjar legislator Sebastian Kulathunkal had a heated confrontation with the police near Koovappally in Kottayam, and a video of the episode has now surfaced publicly.

According to the police, the dispute arose over the establishment of a Left Democratic Front (LDF) booth committee office and the installation of flex boards in Koovappally. The boards had been placed within the restricted area near the polling booth, and the police instructed their removal. In response, Mr. Kulathunkal reacted emotionally, asserting that his rank as a legislator was above that of the State Police Chief. The police, however, stood firm on their instructions.

Meanwhile, a clash between the LDF and the United Democratic Front (UDF) workers was reported from Vazhapally, near Changanassery, in Kottayam. The incident occurred at booth number 57, Government School, Vadakkekkara, where a UDF worker was assaulted. UDF sources alleged that the attack was led by a CPI(M) leader who is also a member of the Vazhapally grama panchayat. The injured UDF workers were admitted to hospital. Kerala Congress leader Francis George, MP, visited them to check on their condition.