Topographically, the Udumbanchola Assembly constituency is the largest one in Idukki district.
Dotted with cardamom plantations, there is a considerable share of votes of Tamil estate workers living for generations in the plantations.
The constituency was formed in 1965 and the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) ruled six times each in its history. Of the 10 grama panchayats under the constituency, six are ruled by the UDF and four by the LDF.
As per the estimate till January 1, there are 1,65,632 voters comprising 81,881 male and 83,751 female voters.
There is an increase of 12,069 new voters from the last Assembly election. Though, the major trade unions are AITUC, CITU, INTUC and BMS, none of them have complete control over the plantations.
For the last three consecutive terms, the constituency has been represented by K.K. Jayachandran of the CPI(M), who is the present district secretary.
The main issue raised in the last Lok Sabha election was the Gadgil-Kasturirangan reports which had a bearing on the outcome.
Joice George, the Highrange Protection Council (HPC) candidate supported by the LDF, had won the Lok Sabha election with a lead of 22,692 votes from the constituency. In the last Assembly election, the constituency recorded a voting percentage of 72.
The CPI(M)-led LDF is fielding M.M. Mani as its candidate. Two major factors likely to influence the voters are the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), which is a constituent of the BJP, and the HPC, an umbrella organisation formed by the Church for protecting the farmers’ interest, which supports the LDF.
