Rajan J. Pallan, Indian National Congress candidate from the Thrissur (General) Assembly constituency in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, representing the United Democratic Front, won the seat with 60,290 votes. A seasoned local leader with extensive civic experience, Pallan is a well-known figure in Thrissur’s political landscape. He secured a margin of 26,803 votes over second-placed Alankode Leelakrishnan, who polled 33,487 votes.
He was in the fray in a three-cornered contest against Alankode Leelakrishnan of the Left Democratic Front and Padmaja Venugopal of the National Democratic Alliance. Expressing confidence ahead of the polls, Pallan had emphasised his strong connect with the people of Thrissur and his experience in public life.
Background
At 63, Rajan J. Pallan is a businessman and has a long-time presence in local governance in Thrissur. Information about his early life is not widely available, and his education is recorded as having studied up to the 10th standard.
Pallan has built his public profile primarily through civic administration. He served as the fifth Mayor of the Thrissur Municipal Corporation and has been associated with the body since its formation, including serving as a councillor.
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{{/usCountry}}According to his election affidavit, Pallan has declared assets worth approximately ₹2.67 crore. Despite the limited publicly available information about his early years, his career reflects a steady rise through grassroots politics and municipal leadership in Thrissur.
What Happened in Previous Elections?
The Indian National Congress held the Thrissur seat for several terms, including a victory in 2011 when Therambil Ramakrishnan defeated CPI’s P. Balachandran by a significant margin. However, the political balance shifted in 2016, when the Communist Party of India regained the constituency, with V. S. Sunil Kumar winning in a tighter contest.
The CPI retained the seat in 2021, as P. Balachandran secured victory once again, underlining the constituency’s trend of closely fought elections in recent years. With margins narrowing over time, Thrissur has emerged as a swing seat where outcomes remain uncertain.
In the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, Pallan is attempting to reclaim the seat for the Congress. He is focusing his campaign on local civic concerns such as traffic congestion and waste management, while emphasising his administrative experience as a former mayor and councillor. With the seat witnessing competitive contests in successive elections, the outcome in Thrissur is expected to be closely watched.