In the upcoming 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, KK Shailaja, a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), is contesting from the Peravoor constituency in Kannur district, shifting from her previous seat in Mattannur. This strategic move is in line with the CPI(M)'s policy of not repeating candidates who have won two consecutive terms from the same seat. Shailaja has strong personal ties to Peravoor, referring to it as her 'home turf,' where she spent her formative years. She previously won the seat in 2006, but lost it in 2011 to Sunny Joseph, the incumbent MLA and president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), who is seeking a fourth consecutive term. The constituency is known for its diverse demographics, including semi-urban areas and agrarian communities, and has shown a tendency to favor the United Democratic Front (UDF) in recent elections. With Shailaja's statewide recognition and popularity, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) aims to mount a serious challenge in what is anticipated to be a closely contested race.