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UDF Sweeps Kerala Assembly Elections 2026, Ends LDF's Decade-Long Rule

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has swept to power in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, ending the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) decade-long rule. The Congress-led coalition comfortably crossed the majority mark of 71 seats in the 140-member House, with the Indian National Congress alone winning 63 seats. The verdict is widely seen as a decisive rejection of the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. The UDF victory also signals a generational shift in Kerala politics, with leadership now centered around figures like V D Satheesan.

Key Points: UDF Wins Kerala 2026: LDF's Decade-Long Rule Ended

  • UDF crosses majority mark of 71 seats in 140-member House
  • Congress wins 63 seats alone, leading coalition victory
  • Ends LDF's decade-long rule under Pinarayi Vijayan
  • Signals generational shift with V D Satheesan as key leader
  • Counting held across 823 constituencies in five regions
2 min read

UDF sweeps to power in Kerala, LDF's decade-long rule uprooted in Assembly elections 2026

UDF sweeps Kerala Assembly elections 2026, ending LDF's 10-year rule. Congress-led coalition crosses majority mark, signaling major political shift.

"A decisive rejection of the decade-long rule of the Left Democratic Front - Election analysts"

Thiruvananthapuram, May 4

The United Democratic Front on Monday emerged victorious in Kerala Assembly elections after comfortably crossing the majority mark of 71 seats in the 140-member House, a verdict widely seen as a decisive rejection of the decade-long rule of the Left Democratic Front and signals a major comeback for the Congress-led coalition.

As per the latest trends, the Indian National Congress (INC) alone won 63 out of the total 140 Assembly seats, accounting for a major portion of the UDF's victory.

Although anti-incumbency against the 10-year-old LDF government was widely expected, the scale of the UDF's lead has still drawn attention.

In the 2016 Keralam Assembly elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), secured a clear victory with 91 seats, including 58 won by the CPI(M) and 19 by the Communist Party of India. The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress, managed 47 seats, with Congress winning 22 and the Indian Union Muslim League taking 18. The Bharatiya Janata Party opened its account in the state with one seat.

In 2021, the LDF expanded its dominance, winning 99 seats, marking a historic consecutive re-election for Pinarayi Vijayan. The CPI(M) increased its tally to 62 seats, while the CPI secured 17. The UDF's performance declined further, dropping to 41 seats, with the Congress winning 21 and the IUML 15. The BJP, despite contesting widely, failed to win any seats in that election.

A UDF victory this time would also signal a generational shift in Keralam politics, as the party moves forward without stalwarts like K Karunakaran and Oommen Chandy. Leadership within the alliance is now centred around figures such as V D Satheesan, who has been a prominent voice against the LDF government.

Counting began at 8 am today across 823 constituencies in key regions, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Keralam, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The process began with postal ballots, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machines from 8:30 am, with round-wise results being updated in real time on the ECINET platform and the Election Commission's official portal.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sneha F
I’m happy that the UDF won, but I hope they don’t forget the common people. The Congress has a history of making empty promises. They better focus on education, healthcare, and job creation. Kerala needs real development, not just political drama. Let’s hope this time is different. 🙏
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Arjun K
People in Kerala are too smart for any party to take them for granted. The LDF thought they could win on Pinarayi’s image alone, but the ground reality was different. The silver tsunami—the elderly vote—also shifted this time. A new chapter begins. Looking forward to seeing the UDF’s first budget. 🇮🇳
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Lauren Z
This is a huge political shift. The LDF had a strong base, but anti-incumbency after 10 years is inevitable. Interesting to see how the BJP will respond—they had zero seats this time. Kerala remains a two-front state, but the Congress clearly has the momentum now.
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Nisha Z
The UDF win is big, but I’m a bit skeptical. The Congress needs to prove they can govern effectively and not just fight among themselves. Kerala has high literacy and expectations—they won’t tolerate incompetence. Let’s see if the new leaders can match up to the legacy of Karunakaran and Chandy. 🤔
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Varun X
I’m from Kerala but living in Bangalore—this news made my day! The LDF’s handling of the gold smuggling case and the corruption in kudumbashree schemes were shocking

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