{{AI-generated|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Adv. Sebastian M. J. | image = | caption = | office = Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly | term_start = May 2026 | term_end = | constituency = Poonjar | predecessor = Sebastian Kulathunkal | successor = | birth_name = Sebastian M. J. | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1969}} | birth_place = Kottayam district, Kerala, India | death_date = | death_place = | party = Indian National Congress | father = Joseph | occupation = Advocate, Politician, Businessman | education = BA, LLB, MBA }}
'''Adv. Sebastian M. J.''' (born 1969) is an Indian politician and lawyer serving as the member of the legislative assembly (MLA) for the Poonjar constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.<ref name="NDTV_Win" /> A member of the Indian National Congress, he was elected in the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, defeating the incumbent representative and a veteran regional leader.<ref name="TOI_Poonjar" />
== Early life and education == Sebastian M. J. was born to Joseph in the Kottayam district of Kerala. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) at St. Thomas College, Palai, in 1989.<ref name="MyNeta" /> He subsequently pursued a legal education, obtaining an LLB from Symbiosis Law School in 1993, followed by an MBA from Symbiosis International University, in 1995.<ref name="Hindu_Profile" /><ref name="Affidavit_ECI" /> Professionally, he has been involved in legal practice, agriculture, and business.<ref name="MyNeta" />
== Political career == Sebastian rose through the ranks of the Congress party's local organizational structure in Kottayam. In the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, he was nominated by the Congress to contest from Poonjar, a constituency noted for its high-profile electoral contests.<ref name="HT_Analysis" />
In a victory described by media outlets as a major shift in Central Travancore politics, Sebastian polled 56,900 votes.<ref name="NDTV_Win" /> He defeated the incumbent MLA, Sebastian Kulathunkal of the Kerala Congress (M), who secured 50,207 votes, and veteran politician P. C. George of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who finished in third place.<ref name="ECI_Result" /><ref name="TOI_Poonjar" /> His campaign primarily focused on the issues faced by rubber farmers and the agricultural community in the eastern reaches of Kottayam district.<ref name="HT_Analysis" />
== Election results == === 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right" |- ! scope="col" style="width:130px" | Party ! scope="col" style="width:220px" | Candidate ! scope="col" style="width:80px" | Votes ! scope="col" style="width:50px" | % ! scope="col" style="width:50px" | ±% |- | style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" | | scope="row" style="text-align:left" | '''INC''' | style="text-align:left" | '''Adv. Sebastian M. J.''' | '''56,900''' | '''39.43''' | '''+16.32''' |- | style="background-color: #008000" | | scope="row" style="text-align:left" | KC(M) | style="text-align:left" | Sebastian Kulathunkal | 50,207 | 34.79 | -14.12 |- | style="background-color: {{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}" | | scope="row" style="text-align:left" | BJP | style="text-align:left" | P. C. George | 36,172 | 25.07 | - |- | style="background-color: #0000FF" | | scope="row" style="text-align:left" | BSP | style="text-align:left" | Shiny A. C. | 603 | 0.42 | - |- ! colspan="2" style="text-align:left" | Margin of victory ! 6,693 ! 4.64 ! |- ! colspan="2" style="text-align:left" | Total valid votes ! 1,44,302 ! ! |- | colspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}; text-align:left" | '''INC gain''' from KC(M) | '''Swing''' | +15.22 | |} <ref name="ECI_Result" />
== References == {{reflist|refs= <ref name="ECI_Result">{{cite web |title=General Election to Assembly Constituencies: Trends & Results May-2026 - Poonjar (S11101) |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultAcGenMay2026/candidateswise-S11101.htm |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="NDTV_Win">{{cite news |title=Live: Poonjar Election Results 2026 - Adv. Sebastian M. J. Won |url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections/kerala-assembly-election-results-2026/poonjar |work=NDTV |date=5 May 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="TOI_Poonjar">{{cite news |title=Poonjar Assembly Election Results 2026 Live Updates: Congress candidate Adv. Sebastian M. J. wins the seat |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/kerala/poonjar-assembly-election-results-2026-live-updates/liveblog/130695158.cms |work=The Times of India |date=4 May 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="MyNeta">{{cite web |title=Adv. Sebastian M. J. (Indian National Congress): Constituency - Poonjar (Kottayam) - Affidavit Information |url=https://www.myneta.info/Kerala2026/candidate.php?candidate_id=846 |publisher=Association for Democratic Reforms |access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="Hindu_Profile">{{cite news |title=Adv. Sebastian M. J., POONJAR constituency, INC, Kerala Assembly Election 2026: Profile & Affidavit |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/Kerala2026/adv-sebastian-m-j-846/ |work=The Hindu |date=5 May 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="HT_Analysis">{{cite news |title=After 2021 setback, P. C. George fails once again, finishes behind Kerala Congress (M) and INC in Poonjar |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-2021-setback-p-c-george-seeks-fresh-mandate-from-poonjar-in-2026-assembly-election-results-101777627504591.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=4 May 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="Affidavit_ECI">{{cite web |title=Candidate Details - Adv. Sebastian M. J. |url=https://affidavit.eci.gov.in/show-profile/Adv_Sebastian_MJ_2026 |publisher=Election Commission of India |date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebastian, M. J.}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala Category:Kerala MLAs 2026–2031 Category:People from Kottayam district