The United Democratic Front (UDF) has crossed the halfway mark in the Kerala Assembly elections, establishing a clear lead and paving the way to form the government. The Congress-led alliance performed strongly across the state, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), faced a major setback. Several key leaders from the ruling front lost their seats, indicating a strong anti-incumbency trend.

One of the most significant aspects of the results is the defeat of thirteen ministers from the 21-member LDF Cabinet led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. These losses reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the ruling alliance. The scale of defeat has dealt a serious blow to the LDF’s position in Kerala’s political landscape.

The elections were conducted for all 140 Assembly constituencies on April 9. A total of 883 candidates contested, making it a highly competitive election. The counting process involved a large administrative setup, with 15,464 personnel deployed. This included 140 returning officers, 1,340 additional returning officers, 4,208 micro observers, 4,208 counting supervisors and 5,563 counting assistants, ensuring that the process was handled smoothly.

Counting began with postal ballots, which accounted for 1.36 per cent of the total votes. Special arrangements were made to manage these ballots efficiently. Each counting table handled up to 500 votes under the supervision of an assistant returning officer. These steps helped maintain an organised counting process.

Kerala has a total electorate of 2,71,42,952 voters. Out of these, 79.63 per cent cast their votes, reflecting strong participation across the state. Polling was conducted in a single phase on April 9, with voters turning out in large numbers.

Most exit polls had predicted a close contest between the two main alliances, with a slight edge to the UDF. The final results align with these projections, as the UDF emerged with a clear advantage over the LDF. The outcome indicates a shift in voter preference and signals a changing political trend in the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also made a notable entry in the elections by winning three seats, marking a modest but important breakthrough. The party secured victories in Nemom, Kazhakkoottam and Chathannoor, showing its growing presence in select regions.

In Nemom, a constituency in Thiruvananthapuram considered BJP’s strongest base, senior leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar won the seat. The former Union Minister defeated CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty by 3,590 votes, while Congress candidate KS Sabarinathan finished third. This result strengthened BJP’s foothold in the constituency.

In Kazhakkoottam, former Union Minister V Muraleedharan emerged victorious, adding to the party’s gains in the Thiruvananthapuram region. In Chathannoor, BJP candidate BB Gopakumar won after a closely contested election, further highlighting the party’s ability to compete in select constituencies.

Overall, while the UDF secured a decisive victory and the LDF faced major losses, BJP’s limited success signals its gradual expansion in Kerala. The results reflect a clear shift in the state’s political dynamics.