Kerala election result highlights: Congress-led UDF sweeps Kerala, ends LDF’s decade rule

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is trailing in the Kerala Assembly elections, with a total of 42 seats either won or leading, according to the Election Commission.

Within the alliance, CPI(M) has secured 25 seats and is leading in one more. The CPI has won 8 seats, while the RJD has taken one seat. The Kerala Congress has secured 7 seats, contributing to the LDF’s overall tally.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has returned to power in Kerala after 10 years, securing 91 seats and comfortably crossing the majority mark, according to Election Commission of India data.

The incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a major setback, managing just 42 seats. Results for 139 of the 140 Assembly constituencies in the state have been declared so far.

In a major political development following the Kerala Assembly election results, CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan stepped down as the Chief Minister on Monday. Vijayan, who led the Left Democratic Front (LDF), resigned after the alliance suffered a significant setback at the polls.

According to the results, the LDF was reduced to just 42 seats, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a clear majority in the 140-member Assembly, paving the way for a change in government.

The 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly will have 11 women MLAs, one less than in the previous House. The outgoing Assembly had 12 women legislators, a majority of them from the CPI(M).

CPI(M) legislator Kanathil Jameela passed away in November last year.

This time, the CPI(M) will have only one woman MLA-O S Ambika, who won from Attingal by a margin of 13,375 votes.

CPI, an LDF ally, will have one woman MLA compared to two in the previous Assembly, with Geetha Gopi winning from Nattika by 7,093 votes.

The Congress, which swept the election, accounts for the highest number of women MLAs in the new Assembly.

Rising from the debris of a crushing defeat five years ago, the Congress-led UDF on Monday staged a dramatic and historic comeback in Kerala, securing a massive mandate in the April 9 Assembly polls and reasserting its dominance in the state's political landscape.

The scale of the victory - with the front winning 102 seats - marks one of the most emphatic turnarounds in Kerala's electoral history, decisively halting the CPI(M)-led LDF's bid for a rare third consecutive term in office.

The triumph comes in stark contrast to 2021, when the UDF was left shattered after the LDF, under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, broke the state's long-standing pattern of alternating governments and retained power - a result that had deeply dented the Congress' morale.

With no power at the Centre and facing sustained political attacks from the BJP nationally, the Congress found itself in a difficult position, forcing it to rebuild from the grassroots in Kerala.

What followed was a carefully calibrated, five-year-long effort to regain lost ground.

A key turning point in the revival was the change in leadership, with V D Satheesan taking over as Leader of the Opposition.

Projecting an aggressive and articulate stance against the ruling dispensation, he emerged as a central strategist, instilling confidence among cadres and reshaping the opposition narrative.

The UDF also focused on strengthening internal cohesion, ensuring better coordination among its constituents, and maintaining a consistent campaign line - a shift that began yielding results in bypolls, local body elections and the Lok Sabha polls.

The April 9 Assembly elections saw the opposition front take this approach to its logical conclusion under the banner of "Team UDF", presenting a united and disciplined front.

Satheesan's 'Puthuyuga Yatra' and a series of targeted campaigns helped energise the grassroots, while the leadership - including senior figures like K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala - worked in tandem to steer strategy and execution.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF ally, played a pivotal role in the victory, delivering one of its strongest performances by winning over 20 seats and operating with organisational precision throughout the campaign.

The front's strategy also included breaching traditional LDF strongholds, with several high-profile upsets underscoring the scale of the anti-incumbency wave.

Leaders who crossed over or challenged CPI(M) bastions - including victories in constituencies like Payyannur, Taliparamba and Ambalapuzha - symbolised a significant political shift.

The front's ability to combine organisational unity, strategic aggression and social balancing and a balanced approach adopted in terms of majority and minority communities ultimately translated into a sweeping mandate.

From a fragmented opposition in 2021 to a cohesive and formidable electoral machine in 2026, the Congress-led UDF's journey reflects a textbook political comeback.

It has not only reshaped Kerala's immediate political landscape but also re-established the Congress as a dominant force in the state.

The CPI(M) on Monday described the latest round of assembly election results as a "serious setback" for the Left, particularly in Kerala, while warning that the growing footprint of the BJP across states poses a wider challenge to secular politics and the opposition's INDIA bloc.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said the results in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry reflect the "ascendancy of right-wing communal forces led by the BJP," which it termed "a matter of deep concern for all secular, progressive and democratic forces."

Addressing a press conference, CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby said the results underline "two major features": the defeat of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala after 10 years in power and the BJP's strengthening position in states like West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry.

"The LDF was defeated in Kerala after ten years of continuous rule, during which it had done its best for the welfare of the people despite financial constraints imposed by the BJP-led Union government," he said, adding that the party would undertake a "comprehensive introspection" to assess the reasons behind the reversal.

The CPI(M) also pointed to a churn in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, where actor-politician Vijay's party has emerged as a major force, dealing a setback to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance. "A new political force is inching towards power, reducing other parties to a minority. This is a new development whose implications will have to be watched," Baby said.

(PTI)

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday crossed the majority mark in the 140-member Keralam assembly.

Congress leader V D Satheesan recorded a victory from North Paravoor constituency with a margin of over 20,000 votes in the Kerala Assembly elections.

Satheesan defeated CPI(M) candidate E T Taison Master by 20,600 votes.

Though he trailed by over 200 votes after the first of the 17 counting rounds, Satheesan regained the lead and went on to secure a comfortable victory.

The win marks Satheesan's fifth consecutive victory from the constituency since 2001. He had earlier lost the seat to CPI candidate P. Raju in 1996.

Satheesan, one of the contenders for the chief minister's post, is currently in Thiruvananthapuram and is expected to return to North Paravoor in the coming days.

As Leader of the Opposition, Satheesan led the Congress-led UDF in the Assembly elections.

(PTI)

Thirteen members of the 21-member LDF cabinet led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were defeated in the Kerala Assembly elections as the ruling front suffered a major setback across the state.

Of the 21 ministers, only the Chief Minister, K Rajan (Revenue), G R Anil (Civil Supplies), K N Balagopal (Finance), P Prasad (Agriculture), and Saji Cherian (Cultural Affairs) emerged victorious.

Among the key losers was Health Minister Veena George, who was contesting from Aranmula for the third time.

George, who had faced criticism over multiple alleged medical negligence incidents during the final year of the LDF government, lost to Congress candidate Abin Varkey by a margin of 18,985 votes.

Varkey secured 70,083 votes against George's 51,098, while senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan finished third with 34,983 votes.

In a surprise result, Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan, considered among the more popular cabinet members, lost to Congress candidate Nattakom Suresh by 19,752 votes in Ettumanoor, Kottayam.

Education Minister V Sivankutty put up a close fight against BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram but lost by over 3,500 votes.

Another high-profile defeat was that of Kerala Congress (B) leader and Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, who suffered defeat for the first time in his electoral career since 2001.

He lost to Congress candidate Jyothi Kumar Chamakkala by 8,310 votes.

LDF Minister Roshy Augustine of Kerala Congress (M) also suffered a heavy defeat in Idukki, losing to Congress candidate Roy K Paulose by 23,822 votes.

Industries Minister P Rajeev was defeated in Kalamassery in Ernakulam district, losing to IUML leader V E Abdul Gafoor by 16,312 votes.

CPI leader and minister J Chinchurani lost to Congress candidate M M Naseer by over 7,400 votes in Chadayamangalam.

Veteran leader and minister Kadannappally Ramachandran of Congress (Secular) was defeated by Congress candidate T O Mohanan by over 18,530 votes.

Minister O R Kelu lost to Congress candidate Usha Vijayan by 10,543 votes in Mananthavady, Wayanad.

Another surprise defeat was that of NCP (SP) leader and minister A K Saseendran, who lost by 12,162 votes in Elathur, Kozhikode, to Congress candidate Vidya Balakrishnan.

Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh was another casualty of the UDF wave, losing to Congress leader V T Balram by 8,385 votes.

Higher Education Minister R Bindu lost to Kerala Congress leader Thomas Unniyadan in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district, by 10,212 votes.

Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, contesting from Tirur in Malappuram, lost to IUML's Kurukkoli Moideen by 24,137 votes.

(PTI)

BJP’s Pradyut Bordoloi has won the Dispur constituency by 49,667 votes, according to ECI. His opponent, Mira Borthakur Goswami of the Congress, finished behind with 53,670 votes.

"Thank you to my brothers and sisters in Keralam for a truly decisive mandate.

Congratulations to every UDF leader and worker for a hard-fought, well-run campaign.

As I said before, Keralam has the talent, Keralam has the potential and now Keralam has a UDF government with a vision to harness both.

I look forward to seeing my Keralam family soon," Rahul Gandhi wrote.

Kerala Assembly Election 2026 result: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday is headed for a decisive victory in Kerala, leading in a majority of the 140 seats, according to Election Commission trends. The surge signals a return to power after 10 years, bringing an end to the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime. Read more

The counting of votes is currently underway for Kerala's 140 Assembly constituencies, which voted in a single phase on April 9. As of 2:30 pm, the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by the Indian National Congress is leading on 53 seats, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Communist Party of India (Marxist) trailing behind on 22 seats. Read full report here

As results are awaited across four states and one Union Territory, early trends show the BJP-led NDA has received a majority in West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK has emerged as a surprise frontrunner, while the UDF is set for a clear majority in Kerala. Here's a look at who is winning West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry. Read more

As UDF takes lead in Kerala, the question that is making rounds is - who will be the next CM of Kerala.

sachin Pilot, who was the Congress' senior observer for the Kerala Assembly polls, told PTI, "We had made a commitment before the polls that once we secure the mandate then all the elected legislators will sit with the leadership, all the stakeholders, senior leaders and also our allies...we will take all into confidence. After having consultations and feedback, the leadership in Delhi -- Mr (Mallikarjun) Kharge ji, Rahul (Gandhi) ji and the senior leadership will decide who will get what responsibility."

Congress MP K. Suresh on Monday said that the party is likely to cross the 100-seat mark in the ongoing counting for the 2026 Keralam Assembly elections.

Speaking to ANI, He noted that counting is still underway and the final figures are yet to be confirmed. The counting isn't complete yet. So, we're crossing 100. Now, the final round of counting is underway, he said.

"The counting isn't complete yet. So, we're crossing 100. Now, the final round of counting is underway. Our elected MLAs will come to Thiruvananthuram and hold a Legislature Party meeting and talk to our coalition parties. After that, a UDF meeting will be called. Everything will be decided by the Congress high command", MP K Suresh said.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan on Monday said the LDF would examine the reasons behind its defeat in the Kerala Assembly elections and take corrective measures.

Speaking to reporters here after the election verdict, Govindan said every aspect that led to the defeat would be analysed.

He thanked LDF workers and the people who voted for the front.

"The LDF will evaluate and study the defeat, after which required corrections will be made. We expect the support of the people for it," he said.

Hailing UDF's performance in Kerala, Shashi Tharoor says it is a ‘a historic day for us’
"It's a historic day for us. It's a tremendous victory... even greater than we had expected. We are looking at an amazing result in Kerala, conceivably over 100 seats," Tharoor said. He noted that the outcome could mark a significant shift in India's political landscape, adding that the Left's decline in Kerala would signal the end of its last major stronghold. "In some ways, it is a closing of a big chapter in India's democratic political history," he remarked.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala won by over 23,000 votes against his nearest rival from CPI in the Haripad Assembly seat after 15 rounds of votes polled from there were counted, as per EC figures.

The data on the Election Commission (EC) website, after all 15 rounds of EVM votes were counted, showed that Chennithala secured 68,184 votes, which was 47.08 per cent of the votes polled in the constituency.

The senior Congress leader won with a margin of 23,377 votes against his nearest rival -- CPI's T T Jismon.

Chennithala is reportedly in the fray for the post of Kerala CM.

The Congress in Kerala on Monday thanked the people of the state for what it termed a "thumping victory", as trends in the April 9 Assembly polls indicated a decisive edge for the UDF.

Addressing mediapersons at the party headquarters here, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the emerging verdict was a clear rejection of the CPI(M)-led LDF government's "anti-people policies".

"The counting of votes is still progressing. The present trend indicates that the people of the state are giving the UDF a historic victory," he said.