M Vijin Retains Kalliasseri for CPIM with 18,433-Vote Lead as UDF Poised for Gains Across Kerala

Key facts

• M Vijin of CPIM wins Kalliasseri constituency in the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, leading by 18,433 votes over INC's Adv. Rajeevan Kappacheri.
• Kalliasseri voter turnout fell to 71.5% in 2026 from 76.41% in 2021.
• Manorama News–C Voter exit poll projects UDF to win 12-14 of Ernakulam's 14 seats, with LDF reduced to 0-2 seats.
• In Ernakulam, UDF vote share is estimated at 47%, LDF at 36%, NDA at 11%, and others at 6%.
• Industries Minister P Rajeev (CPIM) faces a tight contest in Kalamassery against Muslim League's V E Abdul Gafoor, with NDA candidate M P Binu potentially decisive.
• UDF candidate V P Sajeendran is projected to win comfortably in Kunnathunad over sitting CPM MLA P V Sreenijin.
• Thripunithura sees a close three-way contest with Congress's Deepak Joy holding a narrow edge over CPM's K N Unnikrishnan and NDA's Anjali Nair.
• Exit poll surveyed 28,848 voters between April 9 and 24, covering all 14 districts of Kerala.

Kalliasseri Verdict: CPIM Holds Strong Amid Lower Turnout

M Vijin of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has won the Kalliasseri Assembly constituency in the 2026 Kerala elections, defeating Indian National Congress candidate Adv. Rajeevan Kappacheri by a margin of 18,433 votes, according to the latest update from the News18 Live Results Hub. The victory marks Vijin's third consecutive win in the seat, following his 2021 triumph over Adv. Brijesh Kumar by 44,393 votes. Voter turnout in Kalliasseri dropped to 71.5% in 2026 from 76.41% in 2021, a decline of nearly five percentage points. The constituency went to the polls on April 9, 2026, with five candidates contesting: Vijin (CPIM), Kappacheri (INC), Sanil A.V. (BJP), K.K. Abdul Jabbar (SDPI), and independent Rajeevan Kannoth.

Exit Polls Signal UDF Resurgence in Ernakulam

The Manorama News–C Voter exit poll projects a strong comeback for the United Democratic Front in Ernakulam district, forecasting the Congress-led alliance to win between 12 and 14 of the 14 Assembly seats. The Left Democratic Front, which won five seats in 2021, is expected to be reduced to zero to two seats, a major setback for the ruling front. Vote share estimates give the UDF 47% in the district, compared to the LDF's 36%, the NDA's 11%, and others' 6%. Even during the strong LDF wave in 2021, Ernakulam remained a UDF stronghold, with the alliance securing nine seats against the LDF's five.

Key Battlegrounds: Kalamassery, Kunnathunad, Thripunithura

The closest contest in Ernakulam is in Kalamassery, where Industries Minister P Rajeev (CPIM) seeks a second term against Muslim League candidate V E Abdul Gafoor. The exit poll indicates a head-to-head race with a slight advantage for Rajeev, but the votes secured by NDA candidate M P Binu could prove decisive. In Kunnathunad, UDF candidate V P Sajeendran is projected to win comfortably over sitting CPM MLA P V Sreenijin. Thripunithura presents a three-cornered fight, with Congress's Deepak Joy narrowly ahead of CPM's K N Unnikrishnan, while NDA candidate Anjali Nair's vote share may influence the outcome. The constituency was long represented by senior Congress leader K Babu.

Leader of Opposition Seeks Another Term in Paravur

Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan is contesting from Paravur, a constituency he has represented continuously since 2001. The exit poll does not provide a specific projection for Paravur, but Satheesan's long incumbency and UDF's projected gains in the region suggest a favorable outlook.

Statewide Trends and Methodology

The Manorama News–C Voter exit poll, conducted between April 9 and 24, surveyed 28,848 voters across all 14 districts of Kerala. The sample was designed to reflect the state's demographic and socio-economic diversity, aiming to improve reliability. The survey offers district-wise insights, tracks vote share patterns, and indicates public preference for the Chief Minister's post. While the exit poll points to UDF gains in Ernakulam and other districts like Alappuzha and Kottayam, the final results will determine whether these projections hold. The Kalliasseri result, with CPIM retaining a key seat, underscores that the LDF remains competitive in its strongholds.

The bottom line

• CPIM's M Vijin wins Kalliasseri with a reduced margin of 18,433 votes, down from 44,393 in 2021, amid lower voter turnout.
• Exit polls project UDF to win 12-14 of Ernakulam's 14 seats, a significant gain from its 2021 tally of 9 seats.
• Industries Minister P Rajeev faces a tight race in Kalamassery, with NDA candidate potentially playing kingmaker.
• UDF leads in vote share in Ernakulam at 47%, compared to LDF's 36% and NDA's 11%.
• The exit poll surveyed 28,848 voters across all districts, offering a comprehensive snapshot of voter sentiment.
• Final results will reveal whether exit poll projections translate into actual seat gains for the UDF across Kerala.