Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: CPI(M)s Vypeen plan falls flat as Chammany breaches Left fort

The electoral game plan of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Vypeen constituency failed to yield the desired result, with Tony Chammany of the United Democratic Front (UDF) recording a decisive victory by a margin of 15,648 votes over M.B. Shiny of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in the coastal constituency.

Mr. Chammany of the Congress, a former Mayor of the Kochi Corporation, secured a total of 66,112 votes, while Ms. Shiny trailed with 50,464 votes. Twenty20’s Anitha Thomas, who contested on the National Democratic Alliance ticket, secured 13,637 votes. With his victory, Mr. Chammany, who had lost from the Kochi constituency in 2021, has breached a Left bastion in the district, as Vypeen has elected only CPI(M) candidates since the constituency came into existence in 2011 following the 2008 delimitation.

The CPI(M) fielded Ms. Shiny after shifting incumbent MLA K.N. Unnikrishnan to Thripunithura. The party was hoping to tap into Ms. Shiny’s popularity among local people to retain Vypeen and cash in on Mr. Unnikrishnan’s influence among key sections to wrest Thripunithura from the UDF. However, the plan failed as the Left Front lost both seats, with the UDF sweeping all 14 constituencies in the district.