Political Tensions Rise in Kerala Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections

As Kerala gears up for the Assembly elections on April 9, political tensions are escalating. BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar faces serious allegations from both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress regarding undisclosed assets. Despite these claims, his nomination has been accepted, leading to legal challenges from his opponents. Chandrasekhar has dismissed the accusations as unfounded and has called for transparency in the electoral process. With the election date approaching, the political landscape in Kerala is charged with controversy and accusations, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 25, 2026, 12:27 IST

Election Controversy Surrounds BJP Candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar

As the voting date for the Kerala Assembly elections on April 9 approaches, political tensions in the state are escalating. A recent controversy has emerged regarding the election affidavit of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP's state president and candidate from the Nemom constituency. Both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress have accused Chandrasekhar of concealing details about his multi-crore benami properties located in Bengaluru from the Election Commission. Despite these allegations and complaints, the election officer for the Nemom constituency accepted Chandrasekhar's nomination, prompting both parties to announce legal action against him.

Chandrasekhar Responds to Allegations

In response to the accusations, Chandrasekhar dismissed them as baseless and challenged his political opponents to take the matter to court. The BJP has fielded him against CPI(M) leader and Minister of General Education V. Shivankutty, as well as former Congress MLA K.S. Sabari Nathan. Official sources indicate that despite a complaint lodged against Chandrasekhar following an investigation, his nomination was still accepted. Reacting to this decision, Sabari Nathan stated that the election officer, as a quasi-judicial authority, does not have the jurisdiction to make such determinations.

Legal Proceedings Expected

He further mentioned that the matter would now proceed through appropriate legal channels. KPCC General Secretary and Congress's core committee chair for the Nemom constituency, Manakkad Suresh, alleged that valuable real estate located in Koramangala, Bengaluru, was deliberately omitted from the candidate's affidavit. Citing available documents, he claimed there are clear discrepancies between the affidavit published on the Election Commission's website and the property tax records from the Karnataka government.

Democratic Rights at Stake

In a statement, Suresh emphasized that the Constitution grants voters the right to full disclosure about candidates, and concealing such information undermines the foundation of democracy. Following the acceptance of Chandrasekhar's nomination, Shivankutty announced that he would initiate legal proceedings against the BJP candidate. In a Facebook post, he accused Chandrasekhar of betraying voters by failing to disclose properties worth crores in his affidavit.

Calls for Transparency

He pointed out that despite tax records revealing ownership of a luxurious house in Bengaluru, this property was not mentioned in the nomination affidavit, which he described as a calculated attempt to influence the democratic process. He noted that this house was previously listed as the candidate's residence during the last Lok Sabha elections. Such actions, he argued, are punishable under the Representation of the People Act, and he intends to file a strong election petition. Additionally, he urged the voters of Nemom to stand against corruption and uphold transparency and integrity in public life. In turn, Chandrasekhar accused the Congress of resorting to lies to contest the elections, launching a sharp attack on the party's leadership and referencing past controversies.

Election Date Approaches

The BJP leader claimed that state minister Shivankutty has been consistently launching personal attacks against him. He stated, “These accusations are not new. Such claims arise during every election. The people desire development, not controversy.” Voting for Kerala's 140-member assembly is scheduled for April 9.