Published May 04, 2026 | 7:24 AM ⚊ Updated May 04, 2026 | 8:05 PM
Jubilant Congress workers in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.
The votes cast for the 2026 Assembly elections held in Kerala on 9 April are being counted on Monday, 4 May, at 140 counting centres in 43 locations across the state, with support from a massive workforce of 15,465 officials.
The counting began at 8 am. The trends indicate a UDF return to power after 10 years.
The counting began with postal ballots, followed by votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Each counting centre has up to 14 tables for EVM counting, with a maximum of 14 EVMs counted per round. Separate tables are designated for postal ballots at a ratio of one table per 500 ballots, each supervised by an ARO.
Strong rooms housing EVMs and other polling equipment were opened in the presence of candidates or their authorised representatives, along with Election Commission observers and officials. The entire process was recorded to ensure transparency.
In Kerala, most exit polls said the UDF is set to win between 70 and 85 seats in the 140-member Assembly, the ruling LDF about 55 to 70 seats, and the BJP-led NDA a distant third, with 0–5 seats.
People’s Pulse projects the UDF at 75–85 seats and the LDF at 55–65, with the NDA at 0–3. Similarly, CNN-News18 estimates UDF at 70–80 and LDF at 58–68, with NDA at 0–4.
P-Marq projects UDF at 71–79 and LDF at 62–69, while Axis My India gives the UDF a wider margin at 78–90 seats, compared to LDF’s 49–62. Phalodi Satta Bazaar estimates UDF at 78–85 and LDF at 56–66, with NDA at 2–3.
The JVC Exit Poll places UDF at 72–84 and LDF at 52–61, with NDA at 3–7 seats. In contrast, Matrize places the LDF ahead at 70–75 seats, with UDF at 60–65 and NDA at 3–5.
The NDA has won three seats in Kerala.
While BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar defeated Minister V Sivankutty by a margin of 4,978 votes, BB Gopakumar, also of the BJP, defeated R Rajendran of the CPI by over 4,000 votes in Chathannur.
BJP leader and Former Union Minister V Muraleedharan defeated Kadakampally Surendran of the CPI(M) by a narrow margin of 428 votes in Kazhakkoottam.
UDF constituent RSP has made a comeback with three of its candidates winning the polls.
Shibu Baby John won from Chavara, Vishnu Mohan from Eravipuram and Ullas Kovoor from Kunnathur.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Minority Affairs George Kurien suffered a debilitating defeat in the Kanjirapally Assembly constituency.
Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign in the constituency being closely overseen by its central leadership, Kurian could only manage a distant third-place finish.
The seat was decisively claimed by United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Rony K Baby, who won with a commanding margin of 29,662 votes. Coming in second was the sitting MLA, N Jayaraj of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), retaining a significant share of the vote but falling short of the top spot.
Kurian, who currently serves as a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, had entered the fray with considerable political backing and expectations.
Six ministers in the outgoing Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet have been defeated in the 9 April elections to the State Assembly, while eight others are trailing as the counting progressed on Monday, 4 May.
Those defeated were R Bindu (Irinjalakuda), OR Kelu (Mananthavady), VN Vasavan (Ettumanoor), Roshy Augustine (Idukki), V Sivankutty (Nemom) and AK Saseendran (Elathur).
LEADING
TRAILING
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading by 2,151 votes over his nearest rival, Minister V Sivankutty, in Nemom. Seven more rounds are pending.
With two more rounds of counting left, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has raised his lead to 11,800 votes in Dharmadam.
The Election Commission has announced four more results:
Thiruvambadi: CK Kasim (UDF) by 6741 votes
Shoranur: P Mammikutty (LDF) by 16,517 votes
Kollam: Bindu Krishna (UDF) by 16,830 votes
Udumbanchola: Senapathy Venu (UDF) by 20,021 votes
At Taliparamba, another red citadel in Kannur, a setback is on the cards for the CPI(M).
Rebel candidate TK Govindan Master, who contested with UDF backing, has secured a lead of 10,375 votes against LDF candidate PK Shyamala Teacher.
Six more rounds of counting are pending.
CPI(M) rebel V Kunhikrishnan has defeated the party's sitting MLA TI Madhusoodanan by 7,487 votes in Payyannur.
The UDF had extended support to Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur, considered to be a CPI(M) citadel.
In 2021, Madhusoodanan had won by 49,780 votes.
Kunhikrishnan's victory is yet to be formally announced.
UDF's Ramesh Pisharody seems to be cruising comfortably with a lead of 10,817 votes over Sobha Surendran of the NDA in Palakkad.
The BJP had high hopes of winning the constituency. Three more rounds of counting are pending.
Kerala Congress (Mani) chairman Jose K Mani seems to be in a tough situation to make a comeback from Pala.
With two more rounds pending, Jose Mani is trailing UDF's Mani C Kappen by 2074 votes
"We are looking at leads in over 100 seats, which few would have dared predict a month ago. The public have clearly voted for change, an end to ten years of LDF misgovernance and a bold new direction for Kerala."
— Shashi Tharoor, MP.
UDF's Aryadan Shoukath has won Nilambur by 54,851 votes, the ECI announced.
In the 2025 by-election necessitated by PV Anwar's resignation, Shoukath had won by a majority of 11,077 votes.
With four more rounds of counting left in Dharmadam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is leading by 7,111 votes over his nearest rival VP Abdul Rasheed of the UDF
Vijayan had recorded one of the highest winning margins of 50,123 votes in 2021.
LDF's UR Pradeep has won Chelakkara by a margin of 29,386 votes.
M Vijin of LDF won Kalliasseri by a margin of 18,433 votes.
Nilambur went to the UDF as Aryadan Shoukath won by 54,851 votes
The ECI will formally announce the results shortly.
The Election Commission has officially announced the win of UDF candidates Chandy Oommen (Puthupally) and Rajan J Pallan (Thrissur)
While Oommen won by a whopping margin of 52,907 votes, Pallan won the constituency by 26,803 votes.
With UDF heading towards a resounding victory, IUML state president Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal stated that the win is a result of "team UDF".
He also added that the future course of action will be decided and announced following a UDF meeting.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has secured a lead of 23,377 votes when the counting ended on Monday, 4 May.
An official announcement is expected soon.
Chennithala's margin in 2021 was 13,666 votes.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading by 5,945 votes over his nearest rival, sitting MLA V Sivankutty of the LDF in Nemom.
Sivankutty is the Education Minister in the outgoing Cabinet.
KS Sabarinadhan of the Congress is the UDF candidate in the constituency, where the BJP had won for the first time in 2016.
The Election Commission of India has formally announced the victory of LDF's TM Sasi from Alathur. He won by a margin of 8,553 votes.
CPI(M) rebel candidate and former minister G Sudharakaran has gained a handsome lead of 12,742 votes over his rival, H Salam of the LDF, in Ambalapuzha. Seven more rounds of counting are pending in the constituency.
In Payyannur, V Kunhikrishnan is leading by 4,751 votes against LDF's TI Madhusoodanan. Two more rounds are pending.
In Taliparamba, TK Govindan Master is ahead of LDF's PK Shyamala Teacher by 12,862 votes. Ten more rounds are pending.
All the three candidates have UDF's support.
Minister MB Rajesh is 7,388 votes behind former MLA and Congress leader VT Balram in Thirthala.
With 10 rounds of counting remaining, LDF's Kadakampally Surendran is 131 votes ahead of BJP's former Union minister V Muraleedharan in Kazhakkoottam.
Industries Minister and LDF candidate P Rajeeve is trailing by 7,355 votes in Kalamassery. UDF's VE Abdul Gafoor is leading in the constituency.
Minister Ganesh Kumar trailing Chamakkala in Pathanapuram
Minister KB Ganesh Kumar is 4856 votes behind UDF's Jyothikumar Chamakkala in Pathanapuram after nine rounds. Five more rounds are pending.
The Vattiyoorkavu constituency in the Thiruvananthapuram district is witnessing a tough fight between VK Prasanth of the LDF and K Muraleedharan of the UDF.
Prasanth has now regained a lead of 34 votes. Former DGP R Sreelekha of the BJP is in the third place.
Congress candidate Manoj Moothedan is leading in Perumbavoor, where sitting MLA and Congress leader Eldhose Kunnappilly was denied another term. Moothedan is leading by 22,001 votes.
Poet and LDF candidate Alankode Leelakrishnan seems to be heading towards a defeat after 13 rounds of counting in Thrissur. He is trailing UDF's Rajan J Pallan by 23,354 votes. Three more rounds of counting are pending.
BJP's Padmaja Venugopal is the NDA candidate.
Congress candidate Deepak Joy is leading with 21,777 votes in Tripunithura. The NDA has fielded a Twenty20 candidate in the constituency, which was considered to be a BJP stronghold. NDA is now in the third position.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is leading with 20,553 votes in Haripad at the end of the 13th round. Two more rounds are pending
Congress's Chandy Oommen, who had a quieter campaign, is ahead by 43,529 votes over his rival in Puthupally, where 12 rounds have been completed.
After trailing in the first six rounds of counting at Dharmadam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is now leading by 3,659 votes.
LDF candidate and finance minister KN Balagopal has a lead of 1,153 votes over his nearest rival Adv. P. Aisha Potty in Kottarakkara.
Potty, a former CPI(M) MLA, had shifted loyalties just before the polls.
Of the 140 seats in Kerala, the UDF is leading in 97 seats, whereas the LDF is ahead in 42 seats. The NDA leads in Nemom.
UDF
UDF candidate Bindu Krishna is leading by 12,107 votes in Kollam, where 10 rounds have been completed. LDF's S Jayamohan trailing.
UDF's TO Mohanan is ahead of LDF's Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli by 6892 votes in Kannur.
The constituency witnessed much political drama earlier after former KPCC president K Sudhakaran, MP, had expressed his wish to contest the polls.
UDF candidate K Muraleedharan of the Congress is leading by 738 votes over his nearest rival and sitting MLA VK Prasanth of the CPI(M) in Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram. BJP's R Sreelekha is in third position.
With nine rounds of counting left, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is trailing his nearest UDF candidate, VP Abdul Rasheed, by 647 votes.
BJP leader Shobha Surendran leads by 2,728 votes over actor and Congress candidate Ramesh Pisharody in Palakkad.
CPI(M) rebel TK Govindan is leading by 3,805 over his nearest rival and former party colleague PK Shyamala. Govindan has the backing of the UDF in Taliparamba.
K Surendran falls far behind as sitting MLA AKM Ashraf of the IUML takes his lead to 26,478 votes in Manjeshwar.
UDF's Deepak Joy is leading by 6312 votes in Tripunithura, which had witnessed a close fight in 2021.
At Puthuppally, sitting MLA and UDF candidate Chandy Oommen raised his lead to 25,305 votes. Out of 15 rounds, seven rounds have been completed.
In Thrithala, Minister MB Rajesh is trailing by 2,186 votes.
Upon completion of three rounds of counting, UDF's VT Balram is leading.
In Nemom, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading by 1,972 votes.
Second is LDF's V Sivankutty, who is the Education Minister.
In 2016, the BJP had won Nemom (a first in Kerala), which the CPI(M) recaptured through Sivankuatty in 2021.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph, contesting from Peravoor, is leading by 3,266 votes. KK Shailaja of LDF is second.
VD Satheesan of UDF increased his lead in Paravur by 3,071 votes.
At Dharmadom, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is contesting, he continues to be trailing.
Upon completion of four rounds of counting, UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed is leading by 2812 votes
At Vattiyoorkavu, where the BJP had set its eyes, former DGP and current councillor with Thiruvananthapuram Corporation R Sreelekha, is in the third slot. Leading there is UDF's K Muraleedharan.
At Guruvayur, where BJP candidate B Gopalakrishnan stirred controversies connected with the identity of those who won from there is trailing.
He is currently in the third slot. Leading there is LDF's N K Akbar.
UDF's Payyannur experiment with rebel candidate V Kunjikrishnan is not materialising.
After completion of five rounds of counting, LDF's TI Madhusoodanan, also the sitting MLA, is leading by 5,859 votes.
In Pathanapuram, Minister and KC(M) leader Ganesh Kumar is trailing by 1,435 votes. There, UDF's Jyothikumar Chamakkala is leading
In Puthuppally, Chandy Oommen of Congress is leading with 20,700 votes.
In Paravur, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly and UDF candidate VD Satheeshan is now leading by 1,606 votes.
In Palakkad, actor and UDF candidate Ramesh Pisharody is now leading by 1,463 votes.
Shobha Surendran of the BJP is second.
Three rounds of counting completed.
KC(M) chairman Jose K Mani is still trailing in Pala, considered to be the citadel of KC(M).
He is trailing by 1,770 votes after competition of three rounds of counting.
In Thodupuzha LAC, Kerala Congress (Joseph) leader Apu John Joseph of the UDF is leading by 5,350 votes.
This marks his first electoral contest after PJ Joseph withdrew and fielded him as the party's candidate.
In Ollur, considered to be a bellwether constituency, LDF'S K Rajan is leading.
Rajan, who is the Revenue Minister, is leading by 4,607 votes.
PV Anvar's Beypore venture is not working, as after the completion of two rounds of counting, he is trailing by 2,554 votes.
Leading there is PA Muhammad Riyas of LDF.
In Aranmula, LDF candidate Veena George, who was Health Minister, is trailing by 3,642 votes.
Leading there is UDF's Abin Varkey.
In Nemom, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading by 1,207 votes.
In Thiruvananthapuram Central, CP John of CMP leads with 1837 votes
NDA candidates PC George, contesting from Poonjar, and his son Shone George, contesting from Pala, are trailing.
In Chavara, Shibu Baby John of RSP (UDF) is leading with 6,805votes.
At Peravoor, KPCC president Sunny Joseph is trailing by 453 votes against LDF's KK Shailaja.
In Perambra, LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan is trailing by 3,682 votes. Leading there is IUML candidate Fathima Tahiliya.
In Paravur, upon completion of three rounds of counting, the sitting MLA and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, VD Satheesan, is trailing by 995 votes.
LDF's ET Taison Master leading.
In Harippad, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is leading by 5,527 votes.
In Elathur, where Forest Minister AK Saseendran is contesting, he is trailing against UDF's Vidya Balakrishnan by 1,755 votes.
At Dharmadom, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is contesting, upon completion of three rounds of counting, he is trailing by 2,077 votes. UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed is leading.
In Ambalapuzha, G Sudhakaran leads by 1,576 votes.
LDF's H Salam, also the sitting MLA, is trailing. Sudhakaran, who was a senior leader with CPI(M), decided to contest against the party with UDF backing this time.
According to the updated ECI data, Congress is leading in 50 seats, followed by CPI(M) with 31. IUML has lead in 17 seats, while CPI is ahead in 13 seats. Kerala Congress leads in four, and BJP and RSP have three each. Independents are leading in two seats, while RJD, RMPI, ISJD, KEC(J), and CMP have one lead each.
In Mananthavady, Minister OR Kelu is trailing and Congress's Usha Vijayan is leading.
At Vadakara, upon completion of three rounds of counting, UDF's KK Rema, who is also the sitting MLA, is leading by 2,808 votes
Status of Kerala Ministers :
Pinarayi Vijayan trailing
Veena George trailing
PA Muhammad Riyas leading
J Chinchurani trailing
P Prasad trailing
AK Saseendran trailing
VN Vasavan trailing
Roshy Augustine trailing
R Bindu trailing
Ramachandran Kadannappalli trailing
KN Balagopal leading
OR Kelu trailing
GR Anil leading
In Kalpetta, T Siddique of Congress is leading.
In Nattika, after the completion of the counting of two rounds, LDF's Geetha Gopi is leading with 1,352 votes.
Sitting MLA CC Mukundan, who was with LDF and later joined BJP, is trailing. He is in the third position.
In Malappuram, UDF's PK Kunjalikkutty leads by 5,126 votes.
In Paravur, Congress's VD Satheesan is trailing. ET Taison of LDF is leading with 243 votes after the first round of counting.
In Thrikkakara, Uma Thomas of Congress is leading, and party workers have already begun celebrations.
In Kazhakootam, where the BJP pins high hopes, after the first round, LDF's Kadakampally Surendran is leading, and BJP's V Muraleedharan is trailing by 379 votes.
In Puthuppally, Chandy Oommen of Congress is leading with 5,315 votes.
In Thrissur, NDA's Padmaja Venugopal is trailing by 4,530 votes.
In Nemom, BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading with 1,302 votes.
In Guruvayur, IUML's NK Akbar is leading with 998 votes, BJP's B Gopalakrishnan trailing
In Peravoor, LDF's KK Shailaja is leading, and UDF's Sunny Joseph is trailing by 23 votes.
Sunny Joseph is the KPCC president.
In Chathannur, BB Gopakumar of the BJP is leading.
In Kanjirapally, NDA's George Kurian is trailing by 1,050 votes. He is a Union Minister.
In Pala, LDF candidate Jose K Mani is trailing
Jose K Mani is the KC(M) chairman. There, sitting MLA Mani C Kappan is leading with 193 votes.
In Thrissur, Rajan Pallan of Congress is leading. Padmaja Venugopal of BJP is trailing.
At Dharmadam, where Pinarayi Vijayan is contesting, he is trailing. UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed is leading with 733 votes.
At Chittur, UDF's Sumesh Achuthan is leading, and LDF's V Murugadas is trailing.
This time, LDF's K Krishnankutty is not contesting.
In Chirayinkeezhu, Ramya Haridas of UDF is leading.
According to ECI data, Congress is leading in 19 seats, followed by CPI(M) with 9. IUML is ahead in 3 seats, while CPI, Kerala Congress and RSP have leads in 2 seats each. RJD, RMPI, and an independent candidate are leading in one seat each.
In Koduvally, PK Firoz of UDF is leading.
At Thrissur, the second round of counting has been completed. Rajan Pallan of UDF is leading with 1,347 votes
In Perambra, Fathima Thahiliya of IUML leads with 623 votes.
In Irinjalakuda, after the first round of counting, LDF's Thomas Unniyadan is leading with 1,045 votes,
In Vadakara, UDF's KK Rema is leading with 6,049 votes.
In Palakkad, Ramesh Pisharody of Congress is leading.
In Chittoor, Sumesh Achyuthan of Congress is leading.
In Kayamkulam, UDF's M Liju is leading and sitting MLA U Prathibha is trailing.
In Beypore, Minister PA Mohammed Riyas is leading with 350 votes. PV Anvar is trailing.
At Chavara in Kollam, UDF's Shibu Babu John is leading.
At Aranmula, Abin Varkey of Congress leads by 225 votes. Minister Veena George is trailing there.
At Sulthan Bathery, UDF's IC Balakrishnan is leading. He is the sitting MLA.
In Manjeshwar, K Surendran of the BJP is leading with 112 votes.
In Nattakom, Suresh of UDF is leading. VN Vasavan, who is the Minister for Devaswom, is trailing there
UR Pradeep, LDF candidate for Chelakkara, is leading with 1,876 votes.
At Nattikam, Geetha Gopi of LDF is leading with 859 votes.
At Thrissur, Rajan Pallan of UDF is leading with 873 votes.
In the Kalamassery constituency, VE Abdul Gafoor of IUML is leading by 600 votes against Minister and LDF candidate P Rajeev.
In Thrissur, Thomas Unniyadan of LDF leads with 704 votes at Irinjalakuda and at Chalakkudy, Biju Chirayth of LDF leads with 10 votes.
In the Kollam constituency, Bindu Krishna of UDF has a 174-vote lead.
Thrissur:
In Nattika, Geetha Gopi of LDF leads by 94 votes.
In Thrissur, Rajan Pallan of UDF has a 392-vote lead.
An unusual incident was reported in the Kalamassery Assembly constituency in Ernakulam, where P Rajeev is contesting. The key to the strong room went missing, prompting a search after which officials broke the seal and entered the strong room.
Initial trends from 134 out of 140 Assembly Constituencies are coming up.
LDF and UDF are leading in 65 seats each, and NDA in four seats.
Initial trends coming from 116 Constituencies out of 140.
UDF leading in initial trends.
At three constituencies — Palakkad, Kazhakootam and Manjeswaram — NDA is leading.
Counting of the votes cast for the Kerala Assembly elections have begun at 140 counting centres in 43 locations across the state, with support from a massive workforce of 15,465 officials.
RMP leader KK Rema, contesting from the Vatakara Assembly constituency, offered prayers at the memorial of her husband and RMP martyr TP Chandrasekharan before heading to the counting centre with party workers.
Addressing the media, Rema said that 4 May marks the 14th martyrdom day of TP Chandrasekharan, a day that carries added political significance this year.
She stated that the election results would deliver a form of poetic justice, a strong reckoning for those behind his murder and added that the CPI(M) and its leadership are likely to face a major setback.
20 out of the 21 members of the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led Council of Ministers are in the electoral fray, awaiting the people’s verdict.
The lone exception is K Krishnankutty, who held the Electricity portfolio but chose not to contest.
When the government assumed office in 2021, the cabinet included leaders like M V Govindan, K Radhakrishnan, Antony Raju, and Ahammad Devarkovil.
A key reshuffle unfolded in 2022 when Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stepped back from his role as CPI(M) state secretary due to health concerns.
MV Govindan took over the reins, resigning from his ministerial post.
This triggered a chain reaction: MB Rajesh moved from Speaker to Minister, while AN Shamseer assumed the Speaker’s chair.
Another reshuffle followed in 2023, when Antony Raju and Ahammad Devarkovil stepped down as part of a pre-arranged agreement.
They were succeeded by KB Ganesh Kumar and Ramachandran Kadannappally.
In June 2024, K Radhakrishnan resigned after winning the Alathur Lok Sabha seat, paving the way for OR Kelu to join the ministry.
LDF candidate for Kannur Assembly Constituency Ramachandran Kadannappalli at a counting centre.
Senior Congress leader and Kottayam Assembly candidate Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan heading to the counting centre with party workers.
With the stage set for vote counting in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, authorities have begun opening strong rooms under tight security, marking the final step before results are declared.
Strong rooms are being opened in the presence of candidates, authorised agents, and Election Commission observers. The entire process is being recorded to ensure transparency.
A total of 140 counting centres across 43 locations are operational, staffed by 15,465 officials, including Returning Officers, AAROs, micro observers, supervisors, and assistants. A total of 883 candidates contested in the polls held on 9 April.
Counting will begin with postal ballots, followed by Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Each centre will have up to 14 tables, with a maximum of 14 EVMs counted per round. Postal ballots will be handled separately, with one table for every 500 ballots under AARO supervision.
After each round, Form 17C will be verified alongside EVM data. Any mismatch between machine counts and booth-level records will trigger mandatory VVPAT verification.
Five booths per constituency will undergo compulsory VVPAT slip verification, while additional checks will be conducted in case of discrepancies. Two EVM observers will also be randomly assigned per round.
Data from EVMs will be matched with Part I of Form 17C to ensure consistency with official polling records.
The tentative voter turnout stands at 79.70 percent. Of the 53,984 postal ballots issued to service voters, 20,028 had been received as of May 1, with more expected before counting begins.
A total of 32,301 police personnel have been deployed statewide to maintain law and order during the counting process.
Authorities say all arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible counting exercise as Kerala awaits the verdict of the electorate.
An official opening a strong room in Kerala.
In a matter of hours, the electoral suspense gripping Kerala will end, as the race to cross the crucial 71-seat mark enters its final phase.
LDF, which has steadily strengthened its position over the past two elections, eyes a third straight term in Kerala. In 2016, it secured 91 out of 140 Assembly seats. That number rose to 99 seats in 2021, helping the alliance retain power.
Its vote share also saw an upward trend, climbing from 43.3 percent in 2016 to 45.3 percent in 2021.
The trajectory contrasts sharply with the situation a decade ago.
In 2011, the contest between the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF was extremely close.
The UDF edged ahead by just four seats, winning 72 seats against the LDF’s 68.
That narrow victory (as 71 seats being the simple majority) came with a vote share of 46.03 percent for the UDF. Now, the UDF is looking to convert that past resilience into a stronger showing.
After the razor-thin win in 2011, the alliance is hoping for a more decisive performance this time.
In the 2006 Assembly polls, LDF won 98 seats and UDF 42.
The counting process will begin at 8 am with postal, home and service votes, while EVM counting starts at 8.30 am and is expected to provide the first official trends.
To ensure transparency, round-wise updates will be published on the Election Commission's website.
Security arrangements are tight. Strongrooms were opened at 7 am in the presence of candidate representatives, with restricted access to counting centres through QR-coded passes monitored by CRPF personnel.
Emphasising accuracy over speed, the Commission aims to declare final results by 5 pm, warning of strict action against any lapses.
The operation involves more than 15,000 officials and over 32,000 security personnel.
CEO Ratan U. Khelkar said unofficial postal ballot trends may appear in the media early, but their official confirmation usually takes longer due to detailed verification and the resolution of objections.
