BJP Candidate List Kerala: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially released its first list of candidates for the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly Election. The list includes 47 candidates who will contest in the upcoming state election. The announcement was finalized by the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) as part of the party’s early campaign strategy.
The Kerala Assembly election is expected to be a three-cornered contest between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Several senior leaders have been fielded in important constituencies, including Rajeev Chandrasekhar and K. Surendran, indicating the party’s attempt to strengthen its presence in Kerala politics.
KERALAM Legislative Assembly Election 2026
Kerala Assembly Election 2026 – Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Election Name | Kerala Legislative Assembly Election 2026 |
| Total Seats | 140 |
| Majority Mark | 71 |
| BJP Alliance | National Democratic Alliance (NDA) |
| BJP First Candidate List | 47 Candidates |
| Announcement Date | 16 March 2026 |
| Major Opponents | LDF (CPI-M led), UDF (Congress led) |
| Key BJP Leaders Contesting | Rajeev Chandrasekhar, K. Surendran |
Key Highlights of BJP’s First Candidate List
- 47 candidates announced in the first phase.
- BJP has nominated several senior leaders and new faces.
- Rajeev Chandrasekhar will contest from Nemom, a constituency historically significant for the party.
- Former state president K. Surendran is also among the candidates.
- The party is targeting seats where it has previously received a strong vote share in Lok Sabha and local elections.
Related Article: BJP Candidate List for West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: First List Expected with Over 150 Names
BJP Kerala Candidate List 2026 (First Phase – Selected Constituencies)
| No | Constituency | Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manjeshwar | K. Surendran |
| 2 | Kasaragod | K. Ranjith |
| 3 | Udma | Manulal Meloth |
| 4 | Kanhangad | M. Balraj |
| 5 | Trikaripur | Ravi Kulangara |
| 6 | Payyanur | A. P. Gangadharan |
| 7 | Kalliasseri | Arun K. P. |
| 8 | Taliparamba | P. Ranjith |
| 9 | Irikkur | K. T. Jayakrishnan |
| 10 | Azhikode | K. K. Vinod Kumar |
| 11 | Kannur | C. Raghunath |
| 12 | Dharmadam | C. K. Padmanabhan |
| 13 | Thalassery | N. Haridas |
| 14 | Kuthuparamba | P. C. Mohanan |
| 15 | Mattannur | Biju Elakkuzhi |
| 16 | Kuthuparamba | P. C. Mohanan |
| 17 | Kozhikode North | Navya Haridas |
| 18 | Kozhikode South | K. P. Prakash Babu |
| 19 | Beypore | K. P. Sreesan |
| 20 | Kunnamangalam | P. K. Krishnadas |
| 21 | Balussery | Libin Lal |
| 22 | Koduvally | T. P. Jayachandran |
| 23 | Thiruvambady | Baby Kottarakara |
| 24 | Malappuram | Ravi Thelath |
| 25 | Manjeri | Aravind Menon |
| 26 | Perinthalmanna | N. Sreeprakash |
| 27 | Mannarkkad | C. Krishnakumar |
| 28 | Palakkad | Shobha Surendran |
| 29 | Malampuzha | E. Krishnadas |
| 30 | Tarur | Niveditha Subramanian |
| 31 | Chittur | S. Suresh |
| 32 | Alathur | V. T. Rema |
| 33 | Thrissur | B. Gopalakrishnan |
| 34 | Ollur | T. S. Suresh |
| 35 | Irinjalakuda | Jacob Thomas |
| 36 | Chalakudy | A. Nagesh |
| 37 | Perumbavoor | P. S. Sreedharan Pillai |
| 38 | Angamaly | K. S. Radhakrishnan |
| 39 | Kothamangalam | Radhakrishnan |
| 40 | Kanjirappally | George Kurian |
| 41 | Pala | Pradeep |
| 42 | Pathanamthitta | K. Surendran Nair |
| 43 | Aranmula | M. T. Ramesh |
| 44 | Nemom | Rajeev Chandrasekhar |
| 45 | Vattiyoorkavu | R. S. Sreelakha |
| 46 | Kazhakkoottam | V. Muraleedharan |
| 47 | Kattakkada | P. K. Krishnadas |
Important Constituencies to Watch
Nemom
- Candidate: Rajeev Chandrasekhar
- Nemom is historically important because the BJP won its first Kerala assembly seat here in 2016.
Manjeshwaram
- Candidate: K. Surendran
- One of BJP’s strongholds in northern Kerala.
Palakkad
- Candidate: Shobha Surendran
- A prominent BJP leader in Kerala politics.
BJP Strategy for Kerala Election 2026
BJP is trying to expand its base in Kerala through several strategies:
- Fielding high-profile leaders in competitive seats.
- Targeting constituencies with a strong BJP vote share in recent elections.
- Combining experienced politicians and new candidates.
- Strengthening the NDA alliance base in the state.
Despite limited representation in previous assemblies, the party aims to increase its seat share and establish a stronger political presence in Kerala.
Political Scenario in Kerala
Kerala politics traditionally revolve around two major alliances:
| Alliance | Major Parties |
|---|---|
| LDF | CPI(M), CPI |
| UDF | Congress, IUML |
| NDA | BJP and allies |
The BJP is attempting to break the LDF-UDF dominance by expanding its voter base in urban areas and northern districts.
FAQ
How many BJP candidates were announced in the first list for Kerala 2026 election?
BJP released 47 candidates in the first list.
Who is the BJP candidate from Nemom?
Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been nominated from the Nemom constituency.
Who finalized the BJP candidate list?
The list was approved by the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC).
When was the candidate list announced?
The first list was announced on 16 March 2026.
How many seats are there in Kerala Assembly?
The Kerala Legislative Assembly has 140 seats.
