Alankod Lilakrishnan, a well-known poet and cultural activist in the literary circles of Kerala, entered electoral politics with the Communist Party of India, fielding him as its candidate in the Assembly elections. His candidacy represents a marked shift from cultural activism within the left movement to direct political participation.
He is contesting from Thrissur constituency, where he faces a competitive contest against Padmaja Venugopal of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rajan J Balan of the Indian National Congress. The constituency has witnessed hotly contested elections in recent years, with CPI P. Balachandran winning the 2021 Assembly elections by a narrow margin of 946 votes over Padmaja Venugopal.
background
Alankod Lilakrishnan, 66, pursued his higher education at MES Ponnani College of Calicut University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1981. Along with his professional career, Lilakrishnan developed a deep interest in literature from a young age. He started writing poems and essays during his school years and gradually gained fame as a storyteller within Malayalam literary circles. Over time, he established himself as a respected cultural voice, known for his contributions to poetry and writing.
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His creative work also extended to Malayalam cinema, where he co-wrote stories, scripts and songs for films like Eakantham. In addition, he appeared as a judge on the poetry reality TV show Mambazham, which aired on Kairali People TV, further highlighting his role in promoting literary talent and culture.
What happened in the previous elections?
Alankod Lilakrishnan’s entry into electoral politics marks a shift from his long literary and cultural career, as he stands as a candidate of the Communist Party of India. He expressed confidence that the Left Democratic Front will retain the Thrissur constituency in the current elections.
The Thrissur Assembly seat has witnessed changing political fortunes over the years. The Indian National Congress held the constituency for a long time, with Thirampil Ramakrishnan winning multiple terms, including the 2011 election, where the CPI defeated P. Balachandran. The balance shifted in 2016 when the CPI(M) regained the seat, with VS Sunil Kumar defeating Padmaja Venugopal of the Congress. The CPI(M) retained control in 2021, with P Balachandran winning by a narrow margin, underscoring the closely contested nature of the election in the constituency.
In the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, Thrissur is witnessing another competitive contest, with Rajan Balan representing the Congress, Alankod Lilakrishnan contesting the CPI(M) and Padmaja Venugopal now contesting as the BJP candidate.
