The 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly will once again see low female representation, with only 11 women MLAs emerging victorious in the 2026 elections. This figure falls short of the 10% threshold for the 140-member house and is a slight decrease from the 12 women elected to the previous Assembly in 2021.
The UDF has fielded 12 women candidates in the 2026 Assembly election, the LDF 18 and the NDA 16. Among the 11 sitting women MLAs, except CPI's C.K. Asha (Vaikom), all were fielded again, but only three returned to the Assembly this time.
Among those fielded are K.K. Shailaja, R. Bindu, Veena George, J. Chinchurani, U. Prathibha, Daleema Jojo, O.S. Ambika, K. Shanthakumari, K.K. Rema and Uma Thomas.
In a major blow to the CPI(M)-led LDF, ministers R. Bindu, Veena George and J. Chinchurani lost the elections. Prominent losers also include, former health minister and four-time MLA K.K. Shailaja, IUML leader Jayanthi Rajan and former IPS officer and BJP's Thiruvananthapuram councilor R. Sreelekha.
Who are the women MLAs of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly?
1. IUML's Fathima Thahiloya (Perambra) won by a margin of 5,087 votes.
2. CPI's Geetha Gopi (Nattika) won the seat by a margin of 7,093 votes.
3. UDF's K.A. Thulasi (Kongad) won the seat by a margin of 3,706 votes.
4. RMP-I's K.K. Rema (Vadakara) won with a lead of 14,862 votes.
5. CPM's O.S. Ambika (Attingal) won by a margin of 13,375 votes.
6. UDF's Ramya Haridas (Chirayinkeezhu) won by a margin of 1,422 votes.
7. UDF's Shanimol Osman (Aroor) won by a margin of 9,324 votes.
8. UDF's Uma Thomas (Thrikkakkara) won by a margin of 50,211 votes.
9. UDF's Usha Vijayan (Mananthavady) won by a margin of 10,543 votes.
10. UDF's Vidya Balakrishnan (Elathur) won by a margin of 12,162 votes.
11. UDF's Bindu Krishna (Kollam) won by a margin of 16, 830 votes.
