P.K. Basheer, sitting MLA of the Indian Union Muslim League, is seeking mandate for yet another term from Ernad. The constituency had elected Mr. Basheer by a margin of 11,246 votes in 2011. Taking on Mr. Basheer in his home turf is CPI’s Independent candidate K.P. Abdul Rahman, who is currently a Left Democratic Front (LDF) block member from Areekode. In the 2011 elections, the first mandate to the Assembly since Ernad came into being following the delimitation, a misunderstanding within the LDF had pushed CPI candidate Ashraf Ali Kaliyath to the fourth position behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The UDF lead in Ernad increased to 18,838 in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2014. The local body elections held in November last year saw the panchayats in the Ernad constituency being shared between the LDF and the UDF.
When the LDF holds power in the Chaliyar, Kavanur and Urangattiri panchayats, the UDF rules the panchayats in Areekode, Edavanna and Keezhuparamba. Although the UDF rules the Kuzhimana panchayat, both fronts have equal strength there.
The BJP has fielded K.P. Baburajan in Ernad.
