Kerala tends to vote for wealthier, older candidates, who are more likely to have criminal cases. Women and younger candidates remain underrepresented.

On April 9, more than 880 candidates will compete for 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly. And of them, more than a third have criminal records.

Muscle and money

We analysed candidate data published by the non-profit Association of Democratic Reforms. Based on affidavits of 863 of the 883 candidates in the fray, we found that about 38 per cent have declared criminal cases against them — nearly 23 per cent face serious charges. But that data also shows that 70 per cent of the MLAs elected in 2021 had criminal cases.

Money, of course, also plays a big role. In 2026, around 39 per cent of candidates are crorepatis, with an average asset of about Rs 2.78 crore, up about 64 per cent from Rs 1.69 crore in 2021. Sitting MLAs, this time, have an average of Rs 2.75 crore in assets.

A total of 104 MLAs will recontest this time. Their average assets, Rs 3.56 crore in 2021, grew to Rs 4.30 crore in 2026, an increase of Rs 74 lakh or 21 per cent over five years.

Gender and age gap

Women remain underrepresented. Out of 883 candidates, only about 11 per cent are women. Among the sitting MLAs, the number drops further to just eight per cent. This shows that even when women enter the race, very few make it to the Assembly.

Age is another important factor, as most candidates are middle-aged, while the winners tend to be older. About 70 per cent of MLAs are between fifty-one and eighty years old.

Turnout trend

Voter turnout data also shows an interesting trend. In many constituencies, turnout in 2021 either stayed stable or declined compared to 2016. However, despite slightly lower participation, the profile of winners remains largely unchanged.

In other words, people in Kerala tend to vote for candidates who are wealthier, older, and more likely to have criminal cases, while women and younger candidates remain underrepresented.