Fisherman-Turned-MLA AD Thomas Scripts Stunning Upset in Alappuzha
The 30-year-old Kerala Students’ Union leader secured a decisive victory with a margin of 21,015 votes, ending decades of Left dominance in the coastal constituency
Alappuzha: In one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, Congress youth leader A. D. Thomas defeated senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) leader and sitting MLA P. P. Chitharanjan in the Left stronghold of Alappuzha.
The 30-year-old Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) leader secured a decisive victory with a margin of 21,015 votes, ending decades of Left dominance in the coastal constituency. Thomas polled 81,065 votes, while Chitharanjan received 60,050 votes. BJP candidate M. J. Job finished third with 15,373 votes.
For Congress workers, the win represents more than an electoral success—it marks the rise of a grassroots leader who overcame poverty, political violence, and personal struggles to reach the Assembly.
Born to Dominic Jackson and Akkamma in Arasarkkadavu, Mararikulam, Thomas grew up in a financially challenged household. At 17, he began working as a fisherman alongside his father. He later took up jobs at a petrol pump, in construction, and continued fishing to support his family.
Despite these challenges, he pursued his education, earning a degree in History from St. Michael’s College under the University of Kerala. He entered student politics through KSU, becoming college union chairman and later KSU’s Alappuzha district president.
Thomas said his political journey began during his college days, where he developed an interest in public speaking and social engagement. Over time, he became known for his active involvement in protests and grassroots campaigns across the district.
He gained prominence during the Nava Kerala Yatra, when he protested in front of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s convoy and was allegedly assaulted by security personnel. An image of him injured during the protest went viral, earning him the nickname “Porali” (fighter) among supporters.
Thomas stated that his candidacy represented the struggles of youth across Kerala who, he claimed, have faced violence and repression. He described himself as a representative of those voices.
Even while holding political roles, Thomas continued manual work, including fishing, to support his family. Unmarried and the eldest of three siblings, his journey from hardship to legislative office has become one of the defining stories of the 2026 Kerala elections.
The scale of his victory has surprised political observers, especially in a constituency long considered a CPI(M) stronghold. In the 2021 elections, Chitharanjan had won the seat by over 11,000 votes, making this result a dramatic reversal driven by a first-time candidate.
