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Sobha Surendran loses in Palakkad as BJP fails to break into Congress stronghold
BJP's Sobha Surendran lost the Palakkad constituency seat to Ramesh Pisharody from the Indian National Congress.
Contesting from the Palakkad constituency, Sobha Surendran lost to the Indian National Congress's Ramesh Pisharody in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. Surendran finished in second position after 11 rounds of counting with 49052 votes, and Pisharody got 62199 votes. Surendran is a BJP leader from Kerala, currently serving as the party’s State General Secretary, a position she has held since July 2025. Known for her active role in social and political issues, she has emerged as a prominent face of the party in the state. She is among the first women from Kerala to hold a national-level position within the BJP.
The BJP had nominated her from the Palakkad constituency for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, a seat traditionally held by the Congress since 2011.
Background
Sobha was born in Wadakkancherry in Thrissur district into an Ezhava family. She began her political journey at a young age, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), around 1995. She has held several key positions within the BJP over the years, including roles in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha, and the party’s state leadership. As State President of the Mahila Morcha (2010–2016), she played an important role in expanding the party’s women’s wing across Kerala and strengthening its grassroots presence.
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What Happened in Previous Elections?
The Palakkad constituency has remained a stronghold of the Congress over the past decade. Shafi Parambil won the seat in three consecutive elections in 2011, 2016, and 2021, maintaining a consistent hold for the party. In the most recent 2024 by-election, Congress candidate Rahul Mamkootathil retained the seat with over 70% of the vote, further reinforcing the party’s dominance in the constituency.
Sobha Surendran first contested from Palakkad in the 2016 Assembly elections as a BJP candidate, where she secured over 40,000 votes and finished second behind Shafi Parambil, marking a significant rise in the BJP’s vote share. In the 2021 elections, she contested from Kazhakkoottam and again finished second with over 40,000 votes. Her consistent runner-up finishes highlight the BJP’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Kerala, even as Palakkad continues to remain a Congress bastion.
