Kerala Election 2026: Antony Raju Campaigns for LDF Candidate in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram – Former MLA Antony Raju joined the campaign efforts for LDF candidate Sudheer Karmana in Thiruvananthapuram after days of speculation. Raju inaugurated the Vanchiyoor regional committee’s election convention. Reports had suggested Raju’s reluctance to publicly campaign stemmed from dissatisfaction with the candidate selection.

Raju stated at the convention that his allegiance lies with the Left and that he has only contested elections alongside the Left Democratic Front. He also asserted that the primary opponent in Thiruvananthapuram is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Raju alleged a deal between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP, particularly in Aruvikkara, claiming the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lacks a strong candidate there. He supported Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recent remark referring to UDF leader G. Sudhakaran as “unrefined,” questioning what was wrong with the statement and suggesting “half a Pinarayi is enough for ten Satheesans.”

Raju’s delayed entry into public campaigning had created a challenge for the front. He was also absent from a recent election convention organized by the Left in Thiruvananthapuram. Antony Raju won the 2021 election and served as a minister representing the Democratic Kerala Congress. However, he was disqualified following a conviction in a case of misappropriation of funds, leading the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to decide to field an independent candidate. There was reportedly dissatisfaction within the party regarding the decision not to allow the Democratic Kerala Congress to field a candidate under its own banner.