Rising from the debris of a crushing defeat five years ago, the Congress-led UDF on Monday staged a dramatic and historic comeback in Kerala, securing a massive mandate in the April 9 Assembly polls and reasserting its dominance in the state's political landscape.
The scale of the victory – with the front winning 102 seats – marks one of the most emphatic turnarounds in Kerala's electoral history, decisively halting the CPI(M)-led LDF's bid for a rare third consecutive term in office.
The triumph comes in stark contrast to 2021, when the UDF was left shattered after the LDF, under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, broke the state's long-standing pattern of alternating governments and retained power – a result that had deeply dented the Congress' morale.
With no power at the Centre and facing sustained political attacks from the BJP nationally, the Congress found itself in a difficult position, forcing it to rebuild from the grassroots in Kerala.
What followed was a carefully calibrated, five-year-long effort to regain lost ground.
A key turning point in the revival was the change in leadership, with V D Satheesan taking over as Leader of the Opposition.
Leaders who crossed over or challenged CPI(M) bastions – including victories in constituencies like Payyannur, Taliparamba and Ambalapuzha – symbolised a significant political shift.
The front's ability to combine organisational unity, strategic aggression and social balancing and a balanced approach adopted in terms of majority and minority communities ultimately translated into a sweeping mandate.
From a fragmented opposition in 2021 to a cohesive and formidable electoral machine in 2026, the Congress-led UDF's journey reflects a textbook political comeback.
It has not only reshaped Kerala's immediate political landscape but also re-established the Congress as a dominant force in the state. (Agencies)
This Live Blog has EndedMay 4, 2026 10:34 pm
Kerala voters show the door to Left rule as UDF sweeps to power; Lotus blooms in 3 seats
May 4, 2026 10:34 pm
Kerala on Monday witnessed a sharp political reset as the state electors voted out the last Left government in the country, bringing back the Congress to the ruling saddle after a gap of 10 years, while the BJP broke through a long-standing electoral drought by winning three seats. PTI
Sudhakaran wins Ambalapuzha seat as UDF independent; Sunny Joseph retains Peravoor
May 4, 2026 7:09 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: Former CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran, who quit the Left party ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls and contested as a UDF-backed Independent, won from the Ambalapuzha Assembly constituency by a margin of 27,935 votes. While Sudhakaran garnered 75,184 votes, his former party colleague and CPI(M) leader H Salam could get only 47,249 votes, according to Election Commission figures. PTI
Pinarayi Vijayan wins Dharmadom amid LDF setback in Kerala
May 4, 2026 6:35 pm
Kannur: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan won from the Dharmadom constituency even as the LDF suffered a severe setback in the Kerala Assembly elections. Vijayan, who had trailed in Dharmadom until the sixth round of counting, secured victory by a margin of 19,247 votes over Congress candidate V P Abdul Rasheed, who put up a tough fight and polled 66,367 votes against Vijayan's 85,614. Vijayan, the face of the LDF in the Assembly election, has won from Dharmadom for the third consecutive time. PTI
Kerala turns page as Vijayan era ends with LDF defeat
May 4, 2026 6:03 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: After 16 years at the helm of the CPI(M), followed by two consecutive terms as CM, Pinarayi Vijayan's long run of authority ended in a decisive electoral setback. A hard taskmaster, shrewd strategist, pragmatic administrator, and crisis manager, the two-time CM and longest-serving CPI(M) state secretary earned many epithets over his decades-long political career. PTI
13 of twenty one ministers defeated as LDF faces major setback in Kerala
May 4, 2026 5:33 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: Thirteen members of the 21-member LDF cabinet led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were defeated. Of the 21 ministers, only the Chief Minister, K Rajan (Revenue), G R Anil (Civil Supplies), K N Balagopal (Finance), P Prasad (Agriculture), and Saji Cherian (Cultural Affairs) emerged victorious.
Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal registers narrow win from Kottarakkara assembly seat
May 4, 2026 5:13 pm
Kollam: Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Monday secured a narrow victory in the Kottarakkara constituency in the April 9 state assembly polls, as he faced a tough fight from former CPI(M) leader Aisha Potty, who had joined the Congress in January this year. Balagopal, who got 63,926 votes, won with just a margin of 1,012, against Potty who had won three times consecutively from the Kottarakkara constituency in the 2006, 2011 and 2016 assembly polls as a CPI(M) candidate. PTI
BJP wins three seats in Kerala assembly polls
May 4, 2026 4:45 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: Three Lotuses bloomed in Kerala as the BJP won from the Nemom, Kazhakoottam and Chathannoor constituencies in the April 9 Assembly polls. In Nemom here, Chandrasekhar was ahead by over 3,500 votes after completion of 16 out of the 18 rounds of counting of votes polled in the constituency, according to EC data. In Kazhakoottam, Muraleedharan was ahead by 265 votes after completion of 17 of the 18 rounds of counting.BJP candidate from Chathannoor in Kollam district, B B Gopakumar has won by 4,398 votes after completion of all 16 rounds of counting of votes polled in the constituency. PTI
Union Minister George Kurian finishes third in Kanjirappally
May 4, 2026 4:18 pm
Kottayam: Union Minister George Kurian finished third in Kanjirappally constituency. The Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs was fielded by the BJP, considering the sizeable Christian population in the constituency. Congress candidate Rony K Baby secured 56,646 votes, followed by sitting MLA N Jayaraj of Kerala Congress with 50,874 votes. Kurian received 26,984 votes, according to the Election Commission. PTI
Kerala PWD Minister P A Mohamed Riyas wins from Beypore assembly seat
May 4, 2026 4:10 pm
Kozhikode: Kerala PWD and Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas is one of the few LDF ministers who survived the Left rout in the April 9 state assembly polls by winning from the Beypore constituency. Riyas secured 81,849 votes and won with a margin of 7,487 against UDF-backed independent candidate P V Anvar, according to the Election Commission (EC) figures. PTI
Will make corrections after examining mandate, says CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan
May 4, 2026 4:06 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan on Monday said the LDF would examine the reasons behind its defeat in the Kerala Assembly elections and take corrective measures. Speaking to reporters here after the election verdict, Govindan said every aspect that led to the defeat would be analysed. He thanked LDF workers and the people who voted for the front. "The LDF will evaluate and study the defeat, after which required corrections will be made. We expect the support of the people for it," he said. On defeats in traditional party strongholds, Govindan said the LDF had suffered a major setback across Kerala. "We will carry out effective organisational work to correct the issues that led to the defeat," he said. Regarding CPI(M) rebel leaders and their impact on the results, he said there would be a detailed examination of the reasons and corrective steps would be taken. "The party has generally received votes, but it requires detailed analysis. We cannot say at this stage whether there was any consolidation," he said. PTI
BJP has 2 MLAs in Kerala from Nemom and Chathannoor assembly seats: State party chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar
May 4, 2026 3:40 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said the party-led NDA has two MLAs in the state, from Nemom and Chathannoor constituencies, and termed it as a reply to the Congress and CPI(M)'s assertions that it will not get even one seat. "Today, people of Nemom and Chathanoor have a given a clear reply to the Congress and CPI(M). There will be two MLAs from BJP-NDA," he said. PTI
Jose K Mani suffers defeat in Pala as Kerala Congress (M) routed in Assembly polls
May 4, 2026 3:34 pm
Kottayam: LDF leader and Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K Mani suffered defeat in the party's stronghold of Pala here in the Kerala Assembly elections on Monday. UDF-backed Independent candidate Mani C Kappen retained the seat by defeating Mani by a margin of 2,991 votes. Pala witnessed a triangular contest, with the BJP fielding its state vice-president Shone George. Kappen secured 50,799 votes, while Mani polled 47,808 votes and George got 35,304 votes. PTI
CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan breaches Left fortress in Payyannur, wins by over 7,000 votes
May 4, 2026 3:26 pm
Kannur: In a major political upset, CPI(M) expelled leader P V Kunhikrishnan on Monday breached the Left fortress of Payyannur constituency and won the seat by over 7,000 votes in the 2026 Kerala Assembly election. Contesting as a UDF-backed Independent, Kunhikrishnan defeated CPI(M) sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan by a margin of 7,487 votes. Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after alleging corruption by Madhusoodanan in Payyannur. PTI
Minister Ganesh Kumar on verge of first defeat in Pathanapuram as counting nears end
May 4, 2026 3:09 pm
Kollam: Transport Minister and actor K B Ganesh Kumar, who remained undefeated for over two-and-a-half decades in electoral politics, is on the verge of defeat in the Pathanapuram constituency as counting of votes in the Kerala Assembly elections enters the final stages, according to EC figures. The Kerala Congress (B) chief is trailing Congress candidate Jyothikumar Chamakkala by over 5,000 votes. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Kumar had defeated Chamakkala by nearly 15,000 votes.
Congress' Chandy Oommen wins
May 4, 2026 2:49 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MLA Chandy Oommen on Monday retained his home turf Puthuppally by a massive margin of 52,907 votes. He is the son of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Chandy got 84,031 votes against CPI (M)'s K M Radhakrishnan, who ended up with 31,124 votes, according to Election Commission data. PTI
BJP's Padmaja Venugopal 3rd time unlucky in race for Thrissur Assembly seat
May 4, 2026 2:18 pm
Thrissur: K Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal's hopes of winning from the Thrissur Assembly constituency were on Monday foiled for a third time, despite her family's long political history in the cultural capital of Kerala and the increase in BJP's vote share here over the years. After 16 rounds of counting of votes polled in the April 9 Assembly elections, Venugopal got 28,662 votes and was in third position behind CPI's Alankode Leelakrishnan (33,487) and UDF's Rajan J Pallan who won with 60,290 votes, according Election Commission (EC) data. PTI
Congress leader Chennithala wins by over 23,000 votes from Haripad
May 4, 2026 1:57 pm
Alappuzha: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala won by over 23,000 votes against his nearest rival from CPI in the Haripad Assembly seat after 15 rounds of votes polled from there were counted, as per EC figures. The data on the Election Commission (EC) website, after all 15 rounds of EVM votes were counted, showed that Chennithala secured 68,184 votes, which was 47.08 per cent of the votes polled in the constituency. The senior Congress leader won with a margin of 23,377 votes against his nearest rival-CPI's T T Jismon. Chennithala is reportedly in the fray for the post of Kerala CM. PTI
IUML credits UDF's teamwork for Assembly polls victory in Kerala
May 4, 2026 1:44 pm
Malappuram: IUML, which is putting up a strong performance in the Kerala Assembly elections, on Monday credited the UDF's teamwork for the alliance's resounding showing. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is leading in 23 of the 27 seats it contested in the Assembly polls. IUML state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the UDF was on course to win around 100 seats. "This is the result of the UDF's teamwork reflected in the election. The rest of the matters will be decided after discussions within the UDF," he said. PTI
Verdict against LDF's 'anti-people policies', says Congress as UDF heads for big win
May 4, 2026 1:13 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress in Kerala on Monday thanked the people of the state for what it termed a "thumping victory", as trends in the April 9 Assembly polls indicated a decisive edge for the UDF. Addressing mediapersons at the party headquarters here, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the emerging verdict was a clear rejection of the CPI(M)-led LDF government's "anti-people policies". "The counting of votes is still progressing. The present trend indicates that the people of the state are giving the UDF a historic victory," he said. PTI
UDF surges ahead, jubilant scenes at Indira Bhavan
May 4, 2026 12:38 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress-led UDF workers broke into euphoric celebrations at Indira Bhavan on Monday as early trends in the April 9 Assembly polls pointed to the front's emphatic return to power in Kerala after a decade. A sea of jubilant workers flooded the KPCC headquarters, raising slogans, beating drums, and distributing sweets as giant television screens showed the UDF steadily climbing past the halfway mark and then surging beyond the 100-seat mark in the 140-member Assembly. Cheers turned into a frenzy the moment the tally crossed three digits, with workers leaping from their seats, embracing one another, and bursting crackers. PTI
CPI(M) rebels, dissidents make gains in early trends in several constituencies
May 4, 2026 12:23 pm
Thiruvananthapuram: Several rebel and dissident candidates with past links to the CPI(M) and who aligned with the Congress-led UDF just ahead of the April 9 state polls, were making notable gains in early counting trends across Kerala on Monday. PTI
Cong-led UDF takes massive lead in 2 hours of counting
May 4, 2026 10:32 am
Thiruvananthapuram: The initial two hours of counting of votes polled in the April 9 Kerala Assembly polls showed the Congress-led UDF taking a massive lead, as per news reports, indicating the front may claim power in the state. The Election Commission figures indicated that the Congress was ahead in 50 seats, CPI(M) in 31, IUML in 17, CPI in 13, with Kerala Congress (M) ahead in 4, and the BJP, Kerala Congress (KEC) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leading in 3 seats each. PTI
VD Satheesan trails in North Paravoor as CPI(M)'s Tyson takes early lead
May 4, 2026 10:02 am
Kochi: Congress leader V D Satheesan is trailing in North Paravoor constituency, where CPI(M) candidate E T Tyson has taken an early lead, according to TV reports. Following the initial rounds of EVM counting, Tyson was leading by over 240 votes. However, Satheesan is expected to gain ground when votes from local bodies with a stronger Congress presence are counted. Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition, led the UDF in the Assembly election. He is among the key contenders for the post of chief minister if the UDF comes to power. PTI
Kerala Assembly poll trends show pro-UDF trend, will get 100 seats: KPCC chief
May 4, 2026 9:56 am
Thiruvananthapuram: As the Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala after the first one hour of counting of votes polled in the April 9 state assembly elections, the party's state unit chief Sunny Joseph said it indicated a trend in its favour. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Joseph also expressed confidence that the UDF will reach the 100 seat mark. "It indicates a pro-UDF trend in the state. We will reach the 100 seats mark," he told a TV channel. PTI
NDA leads in 5 constituencies
May 4, 2026 9:53 am
Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP-led NDA is leading in five constituencies in Kerala with the counting of votes in the April 9 Assembly polls reaching the initial one and hours. The saffron party-led front continues to maintain the lead in Nemom, Kazhakkoottam, Manjeswar, Palakkad and Chathannur in the initial hour, according to various television reports. PTI
Pinarayi Vijayan takes lead in Dharmadom as Congress candidate puts up tough fight
May 4, 2026 9:41 am
Kannur: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was trailing in Dharmadom constituency till the sixth round of counting, has moved into the lead, according to TV reports. However, Congress candidate V P Abdul Rasheed continues to put up a tough fight, with Vijayan leading by only around 1,500 votes while more than six rounds of counting remain. PTI
12 ministers trail as counting progresses
May 4, 2026 9:35 am
Thiruvananthapuram: At least 12 ministers in the CPI(M)-led LDF cabinet were trailing on Monday with the counting of votes polled in the April 9 Assembly elections progressing across the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also trailing in his sitting seat Dharmadam, considered his bastion and where his village Pinarayi falls. According to various reports, ministers- Veena George, M B Rajesh, O R Kelu, R Bindhu, J Chinchurani, P Rajeev, K B Ganesh Kumar, V N Vasavan, V Sivankutty, V Abdurahiman, A K Saseendran and Roshy Augustine were trailing in their respective constituencies. PTI
Trends after 9 am show UDF continues to lead
May 4, 2026 9:32 am
Thiruvananthapuram: As counting of EVM votes polled in the April 9 Kerala Assembly elections commenced, trends after 9 am show the Congress-led UDF leading in the state. The UDF was ahead in close to 90 seats, while the CPI(M)-led LDF was leading in over 40 seats with the BJP-headed NDA in the front in around 5 assembly constituencies as EVM votes began to be counted, according to news reports. As per Election Commission figures, Congress is ahead in 10 seats, CPI(M) in 5, CPI in 2, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) 2 and IUML, RJD and Kerala Congress (KEC) with one each, among others. PTI
Initial counting trends show Cong-led UDF leading
May 4, 2026 8:37 am
Thiruvananthapuram: Initial trends following the commencement of counting of votes polled in the April 9 Kerala Assembly elections showed the Congress-led UDF leading in the state. According to news reports, UDF was leading in over 60 seats, while the CPI(M)-led LDF was ahead in over 50 seats in the state. The initial trends are based on the counting of postal ballots, which account for 1.36 per cent of the total votes polled. PTI
78.27 per cent voter turnout
May 4, 2026 7:46 am
Kerala recorded a voter turnout of 78.27 per cent in the single-phase polling held on April 9. According to official data, postal votes polled across the Thiruvananthapuram district include Varkala (2,884), Attingal (3,977), Chirayinkeezhu (2,976), Nedumangad (3,926), Vamanapuram (3,807), Kazhakkoottam (2,437), Vattiyoorkavu (2,734), Thiruvananthapuram (1,916), Nemom (2,511), Aruvikkara (3,676), Parassala (3,448), Kattakkada (3,531), Kovalam (3,065), and Neyyattinkara (3,998), indicating strong participation in early voting.