In the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, K.U. Jenish Kumar of the CPI(M) won
the seat, continuing the Left front's hold in the region. The constituency had
1,84,417 registered voters, with a turnout of 74.2%.
Panchayats & Boundaries
Konni constituency covers a large rural area and includes the following grama
panchayats:
Konni
Seethathodu
Koodal
Malayalappuzha
Vallicode
Pramadom
Thannithode
Chittar
It borders Ranni, Aranmula, and Adoor constituencies to the west and shares its
eastern boundary with forest lands adjoining Tamil Nadu. The region has limited
urban pockets, with Konni town acting as the main commercial and administrative
centre.
Geographic & Demographic Peculiarities
Konni is renowned for its rolling hills, forest tracts, wildlife corridors, and the
Konni Elephant Training Centre, a major tourist attraction. The Achankovil and
Pamba rivers flow through parts of the constituency, supporting agriculture and
drinking water needs.
The constituency is home to several Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities,
particularly in forest-bordering areas like Seethathodu and Chittar. The population
is a mix of Hindus and Christians, with strong community networks and
cooperative institutions. Despite difficult terrain, Konni has a literacy rate of over
95%, though accessibility to higher education and specialized healthcare remains
limited in interior wards.
Income & Livelihood Sources
Agriculture: The backbone of Konni’s economy. Rubber, pepper, arecanut,
and banana are cultivated widely, especially in Koodal and Vallicode.
Forest Produce & Tribal Livelihoods: Honey collection, medicinal plants,
and bamboo crafts contribute to tribal incomes.
NRI Remittances: Growing, particularly among youth from
Malayalappuzha and Pramadom.
Government and Education Sector Jobs: A steady source of employment
in Konni town and nearby panchayats.
Tourism & Eco Initiatives: The elephant camp and trekking routes draw
visitors, creating livelihood for guides, homestays, and small businesses.
Economic Strata
Konni’s demographic largely falls into the middle-income and lower-middle-
income groups, with BPL populations concentrated in tribal colonies and remote
hilly settlements. Economic security is often tied to agricultural prices, forest
access, and seasonal employment.
Recent Development Efforts
Konni–Punalur road widening and bridge construction, improving hill
access
Housing and land distribution projects for tribal communities in
Seethathodu and Thannithode
Modernisation of the Konni Elephant Camp with eco-tourism integration
Skill training programs through Kudumbashree and tribal welfare missions
weone application rollout: Digitally connecting rural and tribal families
with pension updates, land records, agricultural subsidies, and welfare
schemes
Conclusion
Konni Assembly Constituency is Kerala’s eastern frontier — a place where forests
meet farms, tradition meets tourism, and development meets nature conservation.
With initiatives like weone enhancing digital governance and service delivery even
in the remotest panchayats, Konni is poised to become a model constituency for
sustainable rural and tribal development in the state.
