The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, has secured a landslide victory in Kerala's assembly election, winning 102 out of 140 seats. This is the alliance's second-largest victory in the state's history, surpassing its 111-seat haul in 1977 following the Emergency.
The UDF's win reduces the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to 35 seats, with 13 sitting ministers losing their constituencies.
The UDF performed well across Kerala, winning 40 of 48 seats in the five Malabar districts, 37 of 53 seats in central Kerala's five districts, and 25 of 39 seats in the four Travancore districts.
Within the coalition, the Congress won 63 of 92 seats it contested, its highest tally ever in Kerala. The Indian Union Muslim League won 22 of 27 seats, and the Kerala Congress faction led by PJ Joseph won seven of eight.
The BJP-led NDA, which had no representation in the last Assembly, won three seats in what is its best-ever showing in the state.
Three former CPI(M) leaders, who had walked out of the party citing misappropriation of funds, nepotism, and internal corruption, contested as UDF-backed independents and won their seats.
The result was foreshadowed in December, when the UDF won the local body polls with 38.81% of votes against the LDF's 33.45%.
The Assembly campaign built on that momentum, attacking the Pinarayi Vijayan government on price rise, unemployment, public debt, and allegations of corruption.
Two community-level shifts proved decisive, with the UDF benefiting from an episode involving Vellappally Natesan, the influential chief of the Ezhava community, and the Union government's bill amending the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, which triggered concerns among Christians.
