Kerala Elections 2026 News

Venugopal factor looms as Congress huddles to pick Kerala's CM face

The Congress took a principled stand in this assembly election that no party MP would contest the assembly elections

BJP emerges runner-up in six Kerala constituencies, boosts vote share

The BJP got second place in Thiruvalla, Palakkad, Malampuzha, Attingal, Kasaragod and Manjeshwar seats after counting of votes on May 4

UDF wins Kerala polls: Who are the Congress frontrunners for CM post?

The Congress-led UDF has returned to power in Kerala after 2016. The focus now shifts to who will be the party's CM choice

Kerala Assembly poll result rejection of polarisation, LDF rule: Venugopal

KC Venugopal said that the mature electorate of Kerala were adept at identifying suitable candidates and prioritised the state's welfare and party ideologies above religion or caste

Kerala Assembly election results 2026: How top candidates performed

The UDF secured around 98 seats in the state, with Congress alone bagging 63 seats, including wins in Haripad, Thrissur, and Paravur.

Kerala restores the power pendulum: Anti-incumbency drives UDF win

Congress-led UDF sweeps Kerala Assembly polls, ending LDF rule in a landslide verdict, while BJP opens its account with three seats, signalling a gradual expansion

Kerala Assembly election results 2026: Check full list of winners

Counting of votes for Kerala's 140 Assembly seats concluded on Monday, as Congress-led UDF is set to make a comeback in the state.

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

The UDF will make a comeback in the state after 2016; however, the coalition's chief ministerial candidate has not been announced yet.

Kerala poll turnout rises to 79.7% after service voters' ballots added: CEO

The chief electoral officer said 53,984 postal ballots had been issued to service voters, of which 20,028 had been received as of May 1

Exit polls predict UDF return in Kerala as LDF trails in tight race

Exit polls show a setback for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF, strongly favouring the UDF, while the BJP remains on the margins

Strong rooms, unsealed rooms shouldn't be opened under any circumstance: EC

The direction was issued following reports of a strong room storing EVMs in Perambra constituency in Kozhikode being opened and reported plans to open another one in Nenmara constituency in Palakkad

Why welfare remains central in Kerala's politics despite rising public debt

Rising debt and shrinking fiscal space have not weakened welfare politics in Kerala. Despite warnings from CAG and RBI, parties continue to rely on welfarism during elections

Kerala polls: Five key seats, five candidates to watch out on May 4

With voting complete across Kerala's 140 constituencies, the fate of over 883 candidates has been sealed. All eyes now turn to May 4. Here are five key seats and candidates to watch

Kerala records over 78% voter turnout in high-stakes Assembly polls

The strong turnout will decide whether the ruling LDF secures a straight third term, the UDF makes a comeback, or the BJP springs a surprise in an otherwise bipolar contest

Assembly polls: Assam records 59% voter turnout by 1 pm, 49% in Keralam

The polling trends in the Union Territory of Puducherry showed a sizeable voter turnout of 56.83 per cent

Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Can welfare shield LDF from anti-incumbency?

Kerala, a state defined by fronts rather than faces, is heading into a high-stakes election. With welfare etched at the core of its political identity, what other factors are shaping the battlefield?

Kerala polls: EC seeks removal of political ads from online platforms

The instruction was circulated by the EC's Kerala office in an official WhatsApp group comprising media groups and journalists

Kerala Assembly elections 2026: Make or break for Left and Congress

For the CPI(M), a victory is essential to preserve its last bastion in the country. The CPI(M) has remained relevant in Kerala even as it was voted out of power in West Bengal and Tripura

15th Kerala Legislative Assembly meets less but pushes laws faster

Despite fewer sittings, Kerala Assembly saw faster lawmaking and high committee use, raising concerns over compressed scrutiny and limited legislative deliberation

Kerala Assembly polls: Criminal cases steady, crorepati candidates surge

Nearly 40 per cent candidates face criminal cases while share of crorepatis rises to 39 per cent, underlining entrenched criminalisation and growing role of money in elections