Fathima Thahiliya’s journey from student politics to the Kerala Legislative Assembly has become one of the notable political stories of the 2026 Kerala Assembly election.
A lawyer and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader, Thahiliya won the Perambra Assembly constituency in Kozhikode district and became the first woman MLA elected to the Kerala Assembly on an IUML ticket.
Her victory was also important because Perambra had been a strong Left constituency for many years. She defeated senior CPI(M) leader and LDF convener T. P. Ramakrishnan in the election. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
According to official election figures, Thahiliya received 81,429 votes, while Ramakrishnan secured 76,342 votes. She won the seat by a margin of 5,087 votes.
But her political story began many years before the 2026 election.
From Student Politics to the IUML
Thahiliya entered public life through the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student organisation associated with the IUML.
She became active in student politics at a young age and gradually rose through the organisation. She later became the national vice-president of MSF, giving her a prominent position within the party’s student wing.
Her political work was closely linked with women’s participation in public life.
She became one of the leading figures behind Haritha, the women’s wing associated with MSF. The organisation was created to give female students a greater role in student politics.
Through Haritha, Thahiliya became known for speaking about the participation of women in political organisations, education and wider social issues.
The Haritha Controversy
Thahiliya’s political career took a difficult turn in 2021 when a major dispute developed between Haritha leaders and sections of the MSF leadership.
Women members of Haritha approached the Kerala Women’s Commission with allegations concerning inappropriate remarks and treatment by male MSF leaders.
The allegations became the centre of a major internal controversy within the IUML. The allegations were disputed, and the party leadership took disciplinary action.
The IUML dissolved the state committee of Haritha, while Thahiliya supported the women who had raised the complaints.
She was subsequently removed from her position as national vice-president of MSF.
Party leaders described the action as being linked to what they called serious indiscipline. Thahiliya, however, continued to argue that women should have a stronger voice within the organisation.
The episode became an important part of her political journey.
Speaking for Greater Women’s Participation
During the controversy, Thahiliya spoke publicly about the need for greater space for women within the IUML and its associated organisations.
She argued that women should not simply be supporters of political organisations but should also have a role in decision-making.
Her position made her a prominent figure in discussions about women’s representation within Muslim political organisations in Kerala.
The 2021 dispute did not end her political career.
Instead, she continued her political activities and remained connected with the wider IUML organisation.
Return to Party Leadership
A major change came in 2024.
The IUML brought Thahiliya and other former Haritha leaders back into organisational positions.
Thahiliya was appointed state secretary of the Muslim Youth League, the youth wing of the IUML.
Her appointment was significant because she became the first woman to be included in the Youth League’s state committee.
The move marked a new chapter in her relationship with the party after the disagreements of 2021.
It also showed her continuing rise within the IUML despite the earlier controversy.
Experience in Local Government
Before contesting the Assembly election, Thahiliya also gained experience in local government.
She served as a councillor in Kozhikode Corporation.
Her experience as a local representative gave her an opportunity to work directly with residents and deal with local civic issues.
By the time she entered the 2026 Assembly contest, she had therefore already experienced student politics, women’s activism, party organisation and local government.
A Lawyer by Profession
Thahiliya is also a lawyer.
She studied law and later completed an LL.M from the University of Calicut in 2017.
Her professional background as an advocate became another important part of her public identity.
Her election affidavit lists her profession as an advocate. Public election records also provide information about her declared assets and liabilities.
According to election affidavit data, she declared assets of around ₹33.45 lakh and liabilities of around ₹16,908.
The affidavit also records three criminal cases. The existence of cases in an election affidavit does not by itself mean that a person has been convicted or found guilty.
Entering the Perambra Contest
In the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, the IUML chose Thahiliya as its candidate from Perambra.
The constituency was not an easy contest for the IUML.
Perambra had a long history of support for the Left, and the CPI(M) had maintained a strong hold over the seat.
Her main opponent was T. P. Ramakrishnan, a senior CPI(M) leader who had also served as the LDF convener.
The contest therefore attracted considerable attention.
Thahiliya was not only a young woman candidate entering a traditionally male-dominated political space; she was also challenging an experienced Left leader in a constituency where the CPI(M) had enjoyed a long electoral run.
A Historic Victory
The result on 4 May 2026 changed the political history of the IUML in Kerala.
Thahiliya won Perambra with 81,429 votes.
T. P. Ramakrishnan received 76,342 votes.
The final margin was 5,087 votes.
Her victory ended the CPI(M)’s long winning run in the constituency.
More importantly for the IUML, Thahiliya became the first woman elected to the Kerala Assembly on an IUML ticket.
Her victory therefore had two separate dimensions: an important constituency result and a historic moment for women in the IUML.
Breaking a Long Left Stronghold
Perambra had been regarded as a strong Left constituency.
The CPI(M) had won the seat consistently since 1980, according to reports on the election.
Thahiliya’s victory therefore represented a major change in the constituency’s electoral pattern.
It is more accurate to describe Perambra as a constituency where the CPI(M) had maintained a long winning run rather than simply saying that the UDF had not won there for 50 years.
The historical record shows that the UDF had secured victories in the constituency before, while the CPI(M)’s long run began in 1980.
First Woman MLA of the IUML in Kerala
The most significant part of the election was Thahiliya’s place in IUML history.
Women had contested elections for the IUML in Kerala before, but none had been elected to the Assembly.
Thahiliya changed that.
Her victory made her the first woman MLA elected from the IUML in Kerala.
The achievement was especially significant given her own history of campaigning for greater participation by women within the party’s student and youth organisations.
Her political career had often focused on giving women a stronger voice.
She was now taking that voice into the state legislature.
Her Political Journey and Women’s Representation
Thahiliya’s journey has attracted attention because of the contrast between different stages of her career.
In 2021, she was removed from the MSF leadership following an internal dispute involving women’s complaints.
In 2024, she returned to an important party position through the Muslim Youth League.
Two years later, she became an elected MLA.
Her journey reflects the changing nature of women’s participation in Kerala politics.
It also makes her election particularly notable within the IUML, where women have historically had fewer opportunities to contest major elections.
A Young Muslim Woman in Electoral Politics
Thahiliya has also spoken about the challenges faced by Muslim women in politics.
She has discussed how women can face social and political barriers when entering public life.
She has also spoken about the challenges faced by women who wear the hijab.
During the 2026 campaign, her identity as a young Muslim woman and a hijab-wearing political candidate became part of the wider public discussion around her campaign.
Her supporters presented her rise as an example of greater political space for women, while her opponents and critics also debated different aspects of her political background and public positions.
Social Media and Online Abuse
Like many politicians campaigning in the digital age, Thahiliya also faced controversy and abuse on social media.
Reports during the election campaign said she was subjected to offensive online comments and personal attacks.
The issue did not end with the election.
After becoming an MLA, Thahiliya raised concerns about cyber harassment in the Kerala Assembly.
She also spoke about the possible misuse of artificial intelligence to create misleading material involving women.
She called for stronger measures to protect women from online abuse and misuse of their images.
The issue brought attention to the growing role of artificial intelligence in political communication and online harassment.
Concerns About Privacy
Thahiliya has also raised concerns about people recording and sharing videos of her personal interactions.
She objected to what she described as people presenting themselves as media personnel while recording private or ordinary conversations and later circulating edited videos online.
She warned that misleading captions or edited footage could create false impressions about people.
The issue added another dimension to the discussion around privacy and social media for public figures.
Her Campaign Style
During the 2026 campaign, Thahiliya spent considerable time meeting voters directly.
Reports about her campaign described interactions with elderly residents, women and younger voters.
Her background as a young lawyer and political organiser also helped shape her campaign image.
Social media played an important role in her public outreach, particularly among younger voters.
She also received campaign support from senior UDF leaders during the election.
A Political Career Built Over More Than a Decade
Although her Assembly victory came in 2026, Thahiliya’s political career had developed over more than a decade.
Her journey can be broadly divided into several stages:
Student activist: She entered politics through MSF.
Women’s leadership: She became associated with Haritha and campaigned for greater participation by women.
Party controversy: She became involved in the 2021 Haritha dispute and was removed from MSF leadership.
Return to politics: She joined the Muslim Youth League’s state leadership in 2024.
Local government: She gained experience as a Kozhikode Corporation councillor.
Assembly election: She contested Perambra in 2026.
Historic MLA: She became the first woman elected to the Kerala Assembly from the IUML.
Fathima Thahiliya’s 2026 Election in Numbers
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Constituency | Perambra |
| District | Kozhikode |
| Party | Indian Union Muslim League |
| Election | Kerala Assembly Election 2026 |
| Votes won | 81,429 |
| Runner-up | T. P. Ramakrishnan, CPI(M) |
| Runner-up votes | 76,342 |
| Winning margin | 5,087 votes |
| Polling | 83.38% |
| Historic achievement | First woman MLA elected from IUML in Kerala |
What Makes Her Story Significant?
Fathima Thahiliya’s story is about more than one election result.
She entered politics through student activism, became a leading voice in a women’s organisation, faced a major internal party dispute, returned to party leadership, gained local-government experience and eventually entered the state legislature.
Her victory also came in a constituency with a long history of Left dominance.
Most significantly, she became the first woman MLA elected from the IUML in Kerala.
For the party, it marked a new chapter in women’s representation.
For Thahiliya herself, the Assembly victory brought her political journey from student politics to the state legislature.
At 34, she entered the Kerala Assembly with experience in law, student politics, women’s activism and local government.
Her career will now be watched closely as she begins her first term as the IUML’s first woman MLA in Kerala.
Fathima Thahiliya at a Glance
- Name: Adv. Fathima Thahiliya
- Party: Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)
- Constituency: Perambra, Kozhikode
- Position: MLA, Kerala Legislative Assembly
- Age in 2026: 34
- Profession: Advocate
- Education: LL.M, University of Calicut
- Political background: MSF, Haritha and Muslim Youth League
- Local government experience: Kozhikode Corporation councillor
- 2026 votes: 81,429
- Winning margin: 5,087
- Historic achievement: First woman MLA elected from the IUML in Kerala
Fathima Thahiliya’s rise from student politics to the Kerala Assembly has made her one of the most closely watched young women leaders in Kerala’s Muslim political landscape. Her election has also opened a new chapter in the IUML’s history, bringing its first elected woman MLA into the state legislature.
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