Polling Stations
According to the Kerala Election Commission, Payyannur has around 180 polling stations (156 in 2016, 151 in 2011). Some key stations include:
Pattiyamma AUP School, Karivelloor (New Building, East Side)
Central LP School, Karivellur
AV Smaraka Govt. Higher Secondary School, Karivelloor (multiple divisions)
Payyannur Central UP School, Keloth (East & West)
SA BT Memorial HS, Thayineri (east & southern wings)
Payyannur South LP School (eastern wing, middle portion)
A Kunhiraman Adiyodi Smaraka GVHSS, Payyannur (main building, all wings)
These stations are distributed across coastal municipality wards and inland villages, serving diverse terrain zones.
Geographic & Demographic Peculiarities
Spanning coastal plains, the Perumba riverbanks, and forest-edged hilly zones in panchayats like Peringome and Ramanthali, Payyannur offers geographic diversity. Payyannur Municipality covers 54.6 km² with population of about 72,111 (2011), now estimated over 100,000. Sex ratio stands high at 1,159 females per 1,000 males; literacy is around 94.1 %. Scheduled Castes account for ~5.6 %, ST ~0.2 %. Religious profile: ~80 % Hindus, ~17.5 % Muslims, ~2 % Christians.
Electoral roll for 2021 lists approximately 1,83,223 electors, with voter turnouts ranging from 78.9 % in 2021 to ~82 % in earlier elections.
Economy & Livelihoods
Agriculture thrives in interior highland panchayats: rice, coconut, areca nut, pepper, cashew and seasonal crops.
Blue economy & fisheries: Coastal wards in Payyannur town and Karivellur–Peralam rely on riverine and coastal fishing.
Remittances (NRI): A significant portion of households depend on Gulf migration, with Kannur district known for its expat population—particularly people from Payyannur.
Small trade/business: Local shops, trading, and family-run enterprises are widespread in the municipality. Co-operative societies (weavers, beedi, ICH) also provide livelihood.
Most households belong to the middle-income bracket, buoyed by remittance inflows and small businesses. However, interior rural hamlets include families still living below the poverty line.
Political Snapshot & Recent Developments
Payyannur is a long-standing LDF/CPI(M) stronghold since 1965, with T. I. Madhusoodanan winning in 2021 with ~62.5 % vote share, defeating INC’s M. Pradeep Kumar by nearly 50,000 votes.
Recent Development Activity
Recent years have seen upgrades in infrastructure and public services: expansion of road connectivity across hilly zones; development of municipal amenities along the Perumba river; library establishment in all municipal wards (a first for Kerala); and increasing access to technical education facilities in the region. Coastal communities also benefit from targeted livelihood support schemes, though specific projects in tourism or fisheries are still emerging.
Conclusion
Payyannur Assembly Constituency encapsulates Kerala’s geographical and cultural diversity—from bustling riverbank municipality to inland agrarian villages. Its economy is sustained by agriculture, coastal fishing, local trade, and significant remittances. With the majority of its households in the middle-income class, and a political legacy firmly in LDF hands, Payyannur looks forward through steady infrastructural improvements, civic empowerment, and inclusive growth across its coastal and highland communities.
