Kerala Elections

Cong picks VD Satheesan as Kerala chief minister after days of suspense

The 61-year-old leader is widely credited with the United Democratic Front's (UDF's) historic 102-seat victory in the 16th Assembly elections held last month

Congress to announce its Kerala chief ministerial pick on Thursday

Kerala is likely to know the name of its next Chief Minister later on Wednesday, with indications that the Congress high command could make an announcement before noon. The delay in the decision has kept the camps of three top contenders--AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala on edge. As the Congress leadership continued discussions over the selection of Kerala's next Chief Minister, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) presidents in Delhi to gather their views and help end the prolonged uncertainty. Sources said the Kerala leaders called to Delhi by the party leadership during crucial discussions on Tuesday expressed their views on the Chief Ministerial choice, with the names of Venugopal, Satheesan and Chennithala figuring prominently in the consultations as the high command continued its deliberations. Former KPCC chief K Muraleedharan, after meeting Gandhi

Kerala CM suspense continues: Is there a deadline to form the govt?

Kerala's CM decision remains pending even after Congress-led UDF's decisive win, as contention among the three top leaders delays the decision, raising questions on government formation timelines

Triangular contest continues in Kerala as BJP eyes next Assembly polls

BJP begins strategising for next Assembly polls; Modi says 'saffron sun' rising in Bengaluru. Archis Mohan writes

Decision on Kerala CM likely in 24 hours: Congress leader Muraleedharan

As lobbying intensifies among the three top contenders for the chief minister's post, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Saturday said the party high command was likely to take a final decision on Kerala's next CM within 24 hours. The UDF's sweeping Assembly poll victory in Kerala has triggered a wave of lobbying and demonstrations by the supporters of senior leaders V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and K C Venugopal, urging the Congress leadership to select the respective leaders as the new CM. "The information from Delhi is that discussions on the chief ministerial candidate will be completed within 24 hours," Muraleedharan told reporters. Acknowledging public fervour, he emphasised that flex boards and marches alone would not determine the leadership. He added that the views of MLAs and coalition partners would also be considered by the Congress leadership. "I will not publicly reveal what I told the high command representatives. I have conveyed the sentiments of the pe

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

The BJP, which gained three seats in the Kerala assembly polls and ended its political drought in the state, came in the second place in six other constituencies. The BJP got second place in Thiruvalla, Palakkad, Malampuzha, Attingal, Kasaragod and Manjeshwar seats after counting of votes on May 4. In Thiruvalla, BJP's state general secretary Anoop Antony came second with 43,078 votes and lost by a margin of 10,146 to advocate Varghese Mammen of the Kerala Congress (KEC). He also increased the party's vote share in the constituency as compared to the 2021 Assembly polls. In 2021, the BJP came third with 16.25 per cent of the votes, while this time it got 30.61 per cent of the votes. In Palakkad, the party's senior firebrand leader Sobha Surendran, following a neck-and-neck contest in the initial rounds of counting, lost to UDF's Ramesh Pisharody by 13,147 votes. She got 49,052 votes, while Pisharody got 62,199 votes. However, she improved the BJP's vote share compared to the 202

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.

Assembly poll results 2026 Highlight: BJP leading in Bengal, TVK ahead in Tamil Nadu, ECI data shows

Assembly poll results 2026 LIVE: Counting across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry begins; early trends will become clear in a few hours and final results are expected by evening

Vote counting to begin at 8 am across Bengal, TN, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry

The process will commence with the counting of postal ballots at 8:00 am, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 am

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

Datanomics: Mapping candidate demographics ahead of April 9 polls

From age and education to wealth and criminal cases, a closer look at who is contesting the April 9 polls across key states

Polling begins today in Kerala, Assam, Puducherry for Assembly elections

High-stakes polls in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry test incumbents, opposition strength and shifting political dynamics across key regions

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

The EC on Wednesday noted that political advertisements were appearing on channels and online platforms on the eve of the April 9 Kerala Assembly polls and sought that they be removed immediately. The instruction was circulated by the EC's Kerala office in an official WhatsApp group comprising media groups and journalists. "Advertisements are appearing on channels and online platforms. This is not permitted during the silence period. It is requested that these be withdrawn immediately," the message said. According to the EC, campaigning through public meetings, rallies, media interactions and election-related interviews was strictly prohibited during the silence period to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders. It has also directed that no person shall display to the public any 'election matter' by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus, including radio, during the 48 hours ending with the conclusion of the poll. The 'election matter' will include

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

CPI(M) in 'deal' with BJP for April 9 polls in Kerala: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday alleged that the CPI(M)-led front has struck a "deal" with the BJP for April 9 Assembly polls in Kerala. She also accused the ruling LDF of "compromising" on ideology, accountability, and responsibility in order to remain in power for 10 years. The Wayanad MP was addressing a corner meeting in Peravoor in this northern district as part of the campaign for the Assembly polls. The LDF chose to make a deal with the BJP, who "harasses" the minorities, especially the Christian community and their nuns, she claimed. Despite the massive theft in Sabarimala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to utter a single word against it, Vadra alleged, and pointed it out as evidence for the deal. When anyone raises a voice against the PM, they are faced with CBI, ED or income tax cases. There is no such single case against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, she claimed. She further charged that a sense of arrogance had crept into the LDF ...

Kerala CM releases progress report, claims 97% of 2021 promises fulfilled

As the Kerala Assembly polls campaign enters its final phase, the ruling LDF on Monday released its progress report, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claiming that around 97 per cent of the promises made in 2021 have been fulfilled. Releasing the report at a press conference here, Vijayan said that people have the right to know the extent to which election promises have been implemented. Respecting that right, the LDF government has, since 2016, presented an annual progress report to the public. "We believe that providing an account as a government is a responsibility. This report briefly summarises the progress of the fifth year of the government that assumed office in 2021," he said. Vijayan, who leads the LDF campaign for the April 9 polls, stated that in 2021, 900 promises were placed before the people in the manifesto. "Of these, approximately 97 per cent of the promises have already been fulfilled or have reached an effective stage of implementation," he added. Kerala w

A corporate model goes political: Twenty20 may disrupt Kerala politics

Kitex-backed Twenty20 enters Kerala's Assembly polls with NDA, pitching its Kizhakkambalam model as a disruptor in the state's bipolar political landscape

Hidden BJP-RSS-LDF hand influencing Keralam elections: Rahul Gandhi

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi questioned his silence on the alleged Sabarimala temple gold controversy. "Chief Minister has full access to the Prime Minister, to the Home Minister