Congress-Led UDF Sweeps Kerala Assembly Polls, Ending LDF's Decade-Long Rule

Key facts

• UDF wins 89 seats, crossing the majority mark of 71.
• LDF wins only 35 seats, its worst-ever tally in Kerala.
• Congress alone wins 63 seats, with a vote share of 28.79%.
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan retains his Dharmadom seat but resigns after the LDF debacle.
• Voter turnout was 79.63% in the single-phase election held on April 9.
• NDA makes marginal gains; BJP achieves a historic breakthrough in Kerala.
• 11 women MLAs are elected to the new assembly.

UDF Storms Back to Power

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, winning 89 of the 140 seats and ending the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) decade-long dominance. Counting concluded on Monday, with the UDF crossing the majority mark of 71 seats comfortably. The result marks a dramatic reversal for the LDF, which had governed the state for two consecutive terms under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The UDF's victory was clear from early trends, with the alliance leading in 69 seats by 4 pm on counting day. The final tally confirmed the UDF's return to power after 10 years in opposition. Congress workers celebrated at party offices with cake-cutting ceremonies, reflecting the scale of the triumph.

LDF Suffers Historic Collapse

The Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), managed only 35 seats — its worst-ever performance in Kerala. The CPI(M)'s traditional strongholds collapsed across the state, with the party trailing in many constituencies it had held for decades. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had led the LDF to victory in 2016 and 2021, retained his Dharmadom seat by a margin of at least 1,500 votes, but the overall debacle forced him to resign. The LDF's vote share dropped sharply, though exact figures were not immediately available. The result underscores a major shift in Kerala's political landscape, where the Left had been a dominant force for much of the past decade.

Congress Leads UDF Charge with 63 Seats

The Indian National Congress won 63 seats on its own, forming the backbone of the UDF's victory. The party's vote share stood at 28.79%, according to official figures. Key Congress winners included Advocate C V Santhakumar in Adoor, A.D. Thomas in Alappuzha, Anwar Sadath in Aluva, Roji M John in Angamaly, Abin Varkey Kodiyattu in Aranmula, and Advocate Shanimol Osman in Aroor. The UDF's coalition partners contributed the remaining 26 seats, with independents also playing a role. The alliance's campaign focused on anti-incumbency against the LDF government, promising economic revival and better governance.

NDA Makes Marginal Gains, BJP Breaks Through

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, registered marginal gains in the election. The BJP made a historic breakthrough in Kerala, winning seats that had long eluded the party in the state. While the NDA's overall tally remained small, the breakthrough is significant for the party's expansion ambitions in southern India. In other states, the NDA performed strongly: the BJP retained Assam and appeared poised to oust Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, where early trends showed the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari leading in Bhabanipur after the second round of counting.

TVK Emerges as Force in Tamil Nadu

In neighboring Tamil Nadu, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party emerged as a formidable force, pushing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to the margins. TVK candidates won several seats, including Karuppaiah MV in Sholavandan by a narrow margin of 2,678 votes, Logesh Tamilselvan in Rasipuram defeating BJP's Premkumar by 14,511 votes, Mohamed Farvas in Aranthangi, and MM Gopison in Madurai South defeating DMK's M Boominathan. The TVK's strong performance signals a realignment in Tamil Nadu politics, with the party positioning itself as a major contender for future elections.

Women and New Faces in the Assembly

The new Kerala Assembly will include 11 women MLAs, reflecting a modest increase in female representation. The exact list of winners across all 140 constituencies was published by the Election Commission, with many new faces entering the legislature. The UDF's victory brings a fresh crop of legislators, while the LDF's losses have unseated several incumbents. The election was conducted in a single phase on April 9, with a voter turnout of 79.63%. The peaceful conduct of the polls and the smooth counting process were noted by observers.

Outlook: UDF Faces High Expectations

The UDF now faces the challenge of governing a state with high expectations after 10 years in opposition. The alliance must address issues such as unemployment, infrastructure, and the fiscal health of the state, which were central to the campaign. The LDF's collapse leaves a void in opposition, with the Left needing to rebuild its base. The BJP's marginal gains in Kerala and its strong performance elsewhere suggest a shifting national political landscape. The UDF's victory in Kerala provides a boost for the Congress party nationally, as it seeks to regain ground lost to the BJP in recent years. The new government is expected to be sworn in within days, with the chief ministerial candidate yet to be announced.

The bottom line

• The Congress-led UDF won 89 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, ending the LDF's decade-long rule.
• The LDF suffered its worst-ever defeat, winning only 35 seats, leading to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation.
• Congress alone secured 63 seats with a 28.79% vote share, while the NDA made marginal gains including a historic BJP breakthrough in Kerala.
• Voter turnout was 79.63% in the single-phase election held on April 9, with 11 women MLAs elected.
• In Tamil Nadu, Vijay's TVK party emerged as a major force, winning several seats and pushing DMK and AIADMK to the margins.
• The UDF's victory provides a boost for the Congress nationally, as the party looks to rebuild ahead of future elections.