Kerala witnessed a decisive political shift on Monday as voters ousted the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), bringing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power after a decade.
According to Election Commission data, the UDF secured a commanding 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, while the LDF was reduced to just 35. The result marks the first time in five decades that the Left is out of power across all Indian states.
The outcome reflected strong anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s government, with as many as 13 cabinet ministers losing their seats. Though Vijayan retained Dharmadam, several senior leaders and LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan suffered defeats.
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The Congress and its allies, including the IUML, recorded a consolidated vote share, with the Congress alone polling 28.79 per cent against CPI(M)’s 21.77 per cent. Senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan won comfortably, emerging as key contenders for the chief minister’s post.
In a significant development, the BJP made modest but notable gains, winning three seats, Nemom, Kazhakoottam and Chathannoor, marking a breakthrough in a state long dominated by the UDF-LDF binary.
Reacting to the verdict, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra thanked voters, saying the mandate would guide the UDF in building a better future.
The CPI(M), meanwhile, acknowledged the setback, with state secretary M V Govindan stating the party would review the reasons behind the defeat.
The verdict signals a clear mandate for change, ending a decade of Left rule and reshaping Kerala’s political landscape.
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