Kerala election results 2026: Left demolished as Congress-led UDF wins big

Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to form the government in Kerala as the alliance has secured 98 seats in the state. Counting concluded on all 140 seats in Kerala on Monday with Congress bagging 63 seats, followed by Communist Party of India (Marxist), which secured 26 seats.

 

This victory of the UDF alliance in Kerala marks a turning point in the political history of the country, as it will be the first time since 1977 that the nation will be without a communist government in any state. After the CPI(M) lost West Bengal in 2011 and Tripura in 2018, Kerala was the last Left bastion in the country.

 

 

The UDF will make a comeback in the state after 2016; however, the coalition's chief ministerial candidate has not been announced yet. Several leaders, including Leader of Opposition V D Satheeshan, are the frontrunners for the chief minister's post. 

 

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), part of the UDF alliance, won 22 seats, emerging as the third-largest party in the state. Other victories by the UDF alliance include: Kerala Congress (KEC) on seven seats; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) on three seats; Kerala Congress (Jacob) on the Piravom constituency; Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPOI) on the Vadakara seat; and Communist Marxist Party (CMP) on the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. 

 

After trailing in the initial rounds, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reclaimed his lead in Dharmadam and won the constituency by over 19,000 votes.

 

Congress leader Satheeshan also won the Paravur constituency by over 20,000 votes. 

 

CPI(M)'s K K Shailaja, widely known for her handling of the Covid-19 and Nipah outbreak in Kerala, lost in the Peravoor constituency to Congress's Sunny Joseph. 

 

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured three seats, including Nemom, where Rajeev Chandrasekhar won by a margin of 4,978 votes.

Kerala elections: What did the exit polls predict?

Exit polls predicted the return of the UDF, which lost power in Kerala in 2016. The state's majority mark is 71 seats. 

The LDF, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been ruling the state for the last two terms.  CATCH KERALA ELECTION RESULTS 2026 LIVE

How did the campaign shape up in Kerala?

Kerala’s contest remained centred on its two main fronts, the LDF and the UDF, as the BJP continues to seek a wider footprint. However, exit polls have not projected major gains for the saffron party in the state. 

Welfare and governance formed the core of the campaign in Kerala this election season. The LDF relied on its record in social schemes, healthcare, and education, while the UDF focused on issues such as unemployment, rising prices, and governance concerns.