Demographics
With around 205,000 electors in 2016–21 and a voter turnout above 80%, Cherthala demonstrates
highly engaged civic participation. Religious composition across the region trends roughly 55%
Hindu, 26% Muslim, and 18% Christian. Scheduled Castes make up approximately 12–13% of the
constituency. Literacy in the region stands above 96%, consistent with Kerala-wide high rates.
Economic Peculiarities
Cherthala is notable for:
 A strong blue economy—seafood processing, shrimp cultivation, and backwater fisheries
near Muhamma and Vayalar support both domestic trade and exports via Cochin port.
 Coir and allied microindustries—coir units operate in coastal wards, often linked to fishing
communities and rural women’s selfhelp groups.
 Agriculture is limited but includes inland paddy, coconut, and small-scale vegetable
cultivation in the panchayats of Thanneermukkam and Kanjikkuzhi.
 Trade, services, and retail flourish within Cherthala town, servicing the wider region—with
educational institutions, transport hubs, and healthcare facilities.
 NRI remittances contribute moderately, though they are not as dominant as in interior
Kerala constituencies.
Economic Strata
Most residents belong to the middleincome category. Steady incomes from fisheries, seafood export
labor, coir craft, retail trade and modest agriculture support solid livelihoods. There are few BPL
households, mainly among remote coastal or marshland-dependent families. Highincome
households are in the minority—typically linked to seafood export ownership, major coir
enterprises, or successful commercial ventures in the town.
Recent Development Activity

 Infrastructure upgrades along NH66 and local roads have improved connectivity with Kochi
and Alappuzha. The area benefits from spillover development from Kochi’s urban expansion,
as Cherthala acts increasingly like a satellite town.
 Backwater tourism and waterway efforts have picked up, with renewed focus on canal
restoration and ferry enhancements in Muhamma and Vayalar areas.
 Electoral modernization saw the inclusion of webcasting and enhanced polling
protocols—Cherthala’s turnout and booth safety mechanisms remain models for civic
transparency.

With 202 polling stations, Cherthala Assembly Constituency is characterized by a literate, engaged
electorate spread across urban municipality and rural panchayats. Its economy thrives on fisheries
and seafood export, coastal coir industries, local trade, and moderate NRI input. The socioeconomic
profile leans firmly toward middleincome living. Recent investments in infrastructure, civic
modernization, and tourism-linked blueeconomy projects point to steady socioeconomic progress
rooted in Cherthala’s unique coastal identity.