Polling Stations & Voter Access
The 2024 byelection featured 184 polling booths to serve urban and periurban wards. Prominent
venues included Government LP School in Kunnathurmedu, BES Bharathi Tirtha Vidyalayam
(Kallekkad), CJB School (Kinassery), and Neythukara Anganwadi. Of these, seven were flagged as
sensitive and 58 were on the watch list, with facilities like ramps and drinking water made available.
Demographics & Cultural Landscape
Palakkad town—also called the "Gateway of Kerala”—lies across the Palghat Gap and serves as a
major transport junction. The region is urbanizing, with suburbs like Olavakkode, Kalpathy, West/
East Yakkara, and Pirayiri forming cultural hubs. Kalpathy is Kerala’s first heritage village, famous for
its traditional Brahmin homes and Kalpathy Ratholsavam. Literacy levels hover around 90%,
reflecting Malabar’s educational strength.
Economy & Livelihood Sources
 Industry & Trade: Situated on major rail and road corridors, Palakkad is Kerala's second-
largest industrial center with hubs like Kanjikode hosting KINFRA zones, IIT Palakkad, and a
rising smart city node.
 Remittances (NRIs): Many households rely on Gulf migration, bolstering middle-income
stability across diverse wards.
 Public services & retail: The city supports administrative offices, educational institutions,
and vibrant retail around Market Road and Chandranagar.
 Agriculture: Outlying panchayats (Pirayiri, Kannadi, Mathur) cultivate coconut, banana, rice,
vegetables, and floriculture.
 No blue economy: Inland geography precludes coastal fishing.
Economic Strata
The vast majority of residents fall into the middleincome bracket, supported by industrial wages,
remittances, agriculture, and trade. A smaller elite—local industry owners, professionals, and
monopoly traders—occupy the higherincome tier. A modest segment, including daily wage laborers
and small subsistence farmers in outer wards, is below the poverty line; thankfully, literacy and
welfare schemes have moderated hardship.

Recent Developments & Infrastructure
 Byelection readiness: Establishment of 184 polling booths with full civic access and police
deployment ensured fair and safe voting.
 Rail and freight upgrades: Palakkad Railway Division saw a 36.5% rise in freight earnings in
202425, reflecting faster goods movement crucial for local industry.
 Industrial corridor: The state approved Rs 70 crore funding for land acquisition in the
KochiPalakkad Industrial Corridor, boosting the upcoming hightech node in Kanjikode.
 Education & infrastructure: IIT Palakkad campus is expanding. Civic improvements across
wards—street lighting, sanitation, road resurfacing—are underway under municipal
implementation.

Palakkad Assembly Constituency is a dynamic urban-rural blend anchored by industrial growth,
cultural prominence, and diaspora support. With a predominantly middle-class demography,
expanding industrial infrastructure, strong polling reach, and regional connectivity upgrades,
Palakkad is advancing toward inclusive and resilient development—rooted in its strategic geography
and entrepreneurial spirit.