UDF Sweeps Kerala, Ending Decade of Left Rule; BJP Wins Three Seats

Key facts

• Counting began at 8:00 am on April 9 at 140 centres across 43 locations.
• UDF won 102 seats; LDF secured 35 seats; BJP-led NDA won 3 seats.
• Congress recorded a 28.79% vote share in the election.
• Incumbent CM Pinarayi Vijayan retained his seat but resigned after LDF's defeat.
• Seven ministers from the outgoing government trailed during counting.
• Election was held for 140 constituencies with 2.71 crore voters.
• Final electoral roll was published on February 20, 2026.

A Decisive Mandate Against Incumbency

Kerala voters delivered a sharp political reset on Monday, voting out the last Left government in the country and bringing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power after a ten-year gap. The UDF swept 102 seats in the 140-member assembly, while the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Communist Party of India (Marxist), collapsed to just 35 seats. Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony described the result as reflecting a strong wave of anti-incumbency, calling it an "undercurrent of anti-government cyclone" across the state. "A third term for the LDF would have been a disaster for Kerala," Antony told reporters, adding that ten years of governance had failed to address public concerns.

How the Counting Unfolded

Counting of votes polled in the single-phase election on April 9 commenced at 8:00 am at 140 centres spread across 43 locations. Strongrooms where electronic voting machines were stored were opened at around 6:30 am in the presence of Election Commission observers, security personnel, and candidate representatives. By 4 pm, early trends showed the UDF leading in 69 seats against the LDF’s 22, signaling a competitive but increasingly one-sided contest. As final results emerged, the UDF crossed the majority mark of 71 seats, with the Election Commission confirming its victory.

BJP Makes Historic Breakthrough

While the UDF dominated, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) made limited but historic gains, winning three seats — a breakthrough in a state where the party had long struggled to open its account. The result marks the first time the BJP has won assembly seats in Kerala, ending an electoral drought that had persisted for decades. The NDA’s marginal gains, however, did little to alter the overall outcome, which was a clear rejection of the LDF government. The Congress party, which now rules three southern states — Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala — celebrated with a cake-cutting ceremony at its party office.

LDF’s Worst-Ever Tally and Vijayan’s Resignation

The LDF’s tally of 35 seats is its worst-ever performance in Kerala assembly elections. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who retained his own seat, resigned shortly after the scale of the defeat became clear. Seven ministers from the outgoing government trailed during counting, underscoring the breadth of the anti-incumbency wave. Antony criticized the Left government’s leadership, alleging that it could not understand the pulse of the people. The results indicated a consolidation of support across sections of society in favor of the UDF, which had been in opposition for the past decade.

Context and Stakes of the 2026 Election

The election was held for 140 constituencies with 2.71 crore eligible voters, based on the final electoral roll published on February 20, 2026. The outcome is significant for all three alliances as they look to strengthen their presence in Kerala’s changing political landscape. The UDF’s victory brings the Congress party back to power in a third southern state, reinforcing its regional footprint. For the LDF, the defeat raises questions about the future of Left politics in Kerala, which had been the party’s last stronghold nationally.

What Comes Next for Kerala

With the UDF set to form the next government, attention now turns to the selection of a new chief minister and the cabinet. The Congress-led alliance will need to address the anti-incumbency sentiment that it successfully harnessed, while managing expectations of a population that voted for change. The BJP’s breakthrough, though modest, may reshape the state’s political dynamics in the long term, as the party seeks to build on its newfound foothold. For now, Kerala’s political landscape has been redrawn, with the UDF back in power and the Left facing its most severe electoral setback.

The bottom line

• UDF won 102 seats, LDF 35, and BJP-led NDA 3 in the 140-member Kerala assembly.
• Incumbent CM Pinarayi Vijayan resigned after his government was voted out.
• Congress recorded a 28.79% vote share, securing a third southern state.
• BJP won its first-ever assembly seats in Kerala, marking a historic breakthrough.
• Counting began at 8:00 am on April 9 at 140 centres across 43 locations.
• The election saw 2.71 crore voters participate based on the February 20 electoral roll.