Kerala Election 2026: BJP Unveils 2nd List; 39 More Candidates Named As Poll Battle Heats Up

BJP releases second Kerala candidate list with 39 names, expanding its poll push as top leaders meet to finalise strategy.

The second BJP candidate list follows an earlier list of 47 candidates, including prominent leaders.

Source : ANI

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Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom

• BJP revealed 39 more Kerala candidates for 2026 elections.
• Top leaders, including PM Modi, approved the candidate list.
• Focus includes northern Kerala seats and expansion attempts elsewhere.
• This follows an initial list of 47 candidates announced.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has stepped up preparations for the Kerala Assembly elections 2026 by announcing its second list of candidates, naming 39 nominees across key constituencies in the state.

The decision was finalised at a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee chaired by Nitin Nabin. The high-level meeting was attended by senior leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Home Minister Amit Shah, among others.

BJP Second Candidate List For Kerala

The newly list includes candidates across constituencies such as Kasaragod, Kalliasseri, Taliparamba, Dharmadam, Thalassery, and Kuthuparamba, reflecting a strong focus on northern Kerala. Prominent names include Ashwini M.L. from Kasaragod, A.V. Sanil Kumar from Kalliasseri, and N. Haridas from Taliparamba.

The party has also fielded candidates in politically significant seats like Manjeri, Malappuram, Vengara, and Tirur, indicating an attempt to expand its footprint in regions where it has traditionally faced stiff competition.

1. Kasaragod - Smt. Ashwini M.L.
2. Kalliasseri - Shri A.V. Sanil Kumar
3. Taliparamba - Shri N. Haridas
4. Dharmadam - Shri K. Ranjith
5. Thalassery - Shri O. Nidheesh
6. Kuthuparamba - Adv. Shijilal
7. Mattannur - Shri Biju Elakkuzhi
8. Kalpetta - Shri Prasanth Malavayal
9. Kondotty - Shri P. Subrahmanian
10. Emad - Adv. N. Sreeprakash
11. Manjeri - Smt. Pathmasree M
12. Perinthalmanna - Adv. K.P. Baburaj
13. Mankada - Shri Lijoy Paul
14. Malappuram - Smt. Ashwathy Gupatha Kumar
15. Vengara - Shri Jayakrishnan V.N.
16. Vallikkunnu - Shri M. Preman Master
17. Tirurangadi - Shri Riju C. Raghav
18. Tanur - Smt. Deepa Puzhakkal
19. Tirur - Shri K. Narayanan Master
20. Thavanur - Shri Ravi Thelath
21. Thrithala - Shri V. Unnikrishnan Master
22. Pattambi - Adv. P. Manoj
23. Kongad (SC) - Smt. Renu Suresh
24. Tarur (SC) - Shri Suresh Babu
25. Chittur - Shri Pranesh Rajendran
26. Alathur - Shri K.V. Prasanna Kumar
27. Guruvayoor - Adv. B. Gopalakrishnan
28. Ollur - Shri Bijoy Thomas
29. Wadakkanchery - Adv. T.S. Ullas Babu
30. Nattika (SC)- Shri C.C. Mukundan

 

BJP releases second list of 39 candidates for Keralam Assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/dhstSvIco2

— ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2026

Momentum Builds After First List Announcement

The second list follows the BJP’s earlier announcement of 47 candidates, which included key names such as state party chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Nemom and Union Minister of State George Kurian from Kanjirappally. The party’s strategy appears to be aimed at maximising its presence across the state, with plans to contest between 90 and 100 seats in the 140-member assembly. Its allies—including Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), Twenty-20, and Kamaraj Congress—are expected to contest the remaining constituencies.