Thiruvananthapuram: Electoral battlefield for the upcoming assembly polls has begun to take final shape, with the scrutiny of nomination papers completed and the focus now shifting to high-voltage campaigning across constituencies.According to Election Commission, 985 candidates remain in the fray after scrutiny, down from the 1,254 nominations initially filed. A total of 269 papers were rejected during the process. The contest is set to be particularly intense in certain constituencies. Koduvally in Kozhikode is the most crowded battlefield with 17 candidates, while Thiruvananthapuram follows closely with 16 contenders. These multi-cornered contests are expected to add layers of complexity to the electoral outcome. However, the final picture will only be clear after the nomination withdrawal deadline on Thursday. Several constituencies have witnessed rebel candidates entering the fray against official nominees of major political fronts, posing a challenge to party leaderships. Efforts are under way across camps to bring dissidents on board and avoid vote splits that could prove costly. Compared to the 2021 assembly elections, which saw 957 candidates, this year’s numbers indicate a slightly higher level of participation, reflecting heightened political activity in the state. With the candidate list largely settled, political parties are now preparing for an intense campaign blitz over the next two weeks. Star campaigners from across the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to visit the state, underlining the high stakes involved in the election. Candidates and party leaders are set to embark on whirlwind tours, covering every corner of their constituencies through roadshows, public meetings and conventions. As the campaign enters its final leg, the focus is expected to shift from traditional door-to-door canvassing to large-scale outreach programmes aimed at maximising voter connect. With the stage now set, the coming days will witness an intense political battle as parties make their final push to sway voters ahead of polling.
