Twenty20 shakes up Kerala's 2026 polls with star-studded candidate list
Twenty20, a rising political force in Kerala, has unveiled its first list of candidates for the 2026 state assembly elections. The party, founded in 2023, is aiming to break the long-standing dominance of the LDF and UDF by blending celebrity influence, professional expertise, and grassroots connections. Its recent entry into the NDA alliance has already shifted the political landscape, raising hopes for the coalition ahead of the April 9 polls.
The party announced nominees for four key constituencies. In Thrikkakara, Akhil Marar, a well-known film director and social media influencer, will stand as the candidate. Marar, who won Bigg Boss and joined Twenty20 in February 2025, was introduced at a press event led by party chief Sabu M. Jacob.
Former Congress leader **Babu Divakaran** will contest in Kunnathunad under the party's Jackfruit symbol. Meanwhile, **Sunny Thomas**, the Malabar regional coordinator, will run in Thiruvambady, and entrepreneur **Ravi Kulangara** has been nominated for Thrikkaripur. Twenty20's growing influence was evident in the 2025 local body elections, where it retained control of two panchayats—**Kizhakkambalam** and **Ikkaranadu**—in Ernakulam district. The party's strategy of fielding high-profile candidates and targeting middle-class voters has strengthened the NDA's position in Central Kerala. The alliance is now eyeing around 100 seats for the BJP and 40 for partners like Twenty20 and the **BDJS**. This push follows a gradual rise in the NDA's vote share, from 10.6% in 2016 to 12.41% in 2021, though it lost its sole seat, Nemom, in the last election. With figures like **Rajeev Chandrasekhar** and Marar in the race, the NDA hopes to disrupt the LDF-UDF stronghold, which held 99 and 41 seats respectively in 2021.
Twenty20's candidate list marks a bold step into Kerala's political arena, combining star power with local leadership. The party's alliance with the NDA and its focus on professional voters could reshape the upcoming elections. If successful, this strategy may challenge the decades-long grip of the LDF and UDF in the state.
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