Kerala Election Results 2026 Highlights: Big Kerala win for BJP, gets 3 seats and 11.5% vote share, UDF set to form government

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) played a major role in the UDF’s election victory. The party secured a record 22 seats and acted as a strong support base, especially helping the Congress in the Malabar region with strong organisation and coordination.

IUML has now become the third-largest party in the Assembly, after Congress and CPI(M), and is expected to play an important role in the next UDF government.

The party had earlier confidently predicted a clean sweep in Malappuram, and that has come true. UDF has won all 16 seats in the district for the first time.

After his victory, Sudhakaran openly criticised the CPI(M), saying the party had moved away from its original communist principles.

He said:
“It is no longer the party I joined. I decided to contest as an independent after being provoked and disparaged by the leadership, including the State Secretary and the Chief Minister. The UDF, led by the secular Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League, fully backed me, for which I am thankful.”

In a major political upset in CPI(M)’s own stronghold in Alappuzha, veteran leader G. Sudhakaran has won the seat as an Independent candidate, delivering a strong blow to the party he was once part of.

Sudhakaran, a communist leader of over six decades, defeated CPI(M) sitting MLA H. Salam by a huge margin of nearly 28,000 votes.

He secured 75,184 votes, while Salam got 47,249 votes. The BJP finished a distant third with 16,348 votes.

Reacting to the verdict in Kerala, M. V. Govindan acknowledged that “the LDF has faced a setback”, adding that the alliance will “closely study and analyse all aspects of the verdict” before making necessary corrections; he affirmed that the CPI(M)-led LDF will regroup and “move forward in the right direction,” while also thanking supporters for their efforts during the campaign.

BJP registered key wins in Kerala, with state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar securing Nemom by 4,165 votes against LDF minister V. Sivankutty. In Chathannoor, B.B. Gopakumar defeated CPI’s R. Rajendran by 3,686 votes, marking the party’s entry in the constituency. Meanwhile, V. Muraleedharan clinched Kazhakootam after a closely fought contest against sitting MLA Kadakampally Surendran, winning by just over 300 votes — the narrowest margin among the three victories.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again opened its account in Kerala, with B. B. Gopakumar securing victory in the Chathannoor constituency. He defeated LDF candidate R. Rajendran by a margin of 4,002 votes.

While the BJP has gained a lead in Chathannoor, the relatively narrow margin suggests that the contest is still open. With counting underway, further rounds could influence the final outcome as both parties look to consolidate their vote share.

The UDF recorded major victories with Chandy Oommen winning Puthuppally by a massive 52,907 votes and Rajan J Pallan taking Thrissur with a margin of 26,803 votes. Ramesh Chennithala also won Haripad by 23,377 votes. The LDF secured Alathur with T. M. Sasi winning by 8,553 votes, while Ramesh Pisharody surged ahead in Palakkad with a lead of 10,817 votes.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala registered a resounding victory, defeating CPI’s T. T. Jismon by 23,377 votes after polling 68,184 votes to his rival’s 44,807. BJP’s Sandeep Vachaspathi finished third with 31,022 votes. Chennithala significantly improved on his 2021 margin and emerged as the sole UDF winner in Alappuzha district, where the front suffered losses in all other seats.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph said early trends point to a historic victory for the UDF as it surged ahead in 96 seats. Addressing a press conference, he said the mandate reflects public anger against the LDF’s “anti-people policies” and mirrors the outcome of local body polls. Senior leaders including Opposition leader V. D. Satheesan, AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala were present. He thanked the people of Kerala, calling the verdict a decisive endorsement of the UDF.

As counting entered the final phase, the UDF dominated Kozhikode with leads in 12 constituencies, while the LDF held ground only in Beypore. Prominent leaders such as T. P. Ramakrishnan, A. K. Saseendran and Ahammad Devarkovil, along with MLAs K. M. Sachindev, Linto Joseph, Thottathil Raveendran, P. T. A. Raheem and K. P. Kunhammad Kutty were trailing.

In a historic political shift, the defeat of the CPI(M)-led Left in Kerala marks the first time in nearly five decades that India will not have a Communist chief minister. The Left Front’s long reign had already ended in West Bengal in 2011 under Mamata Banerjee and in Tripura in 2018 with the BJP’s rise, which it sustained in 2023. Kerala remained the last stronghold, where the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front, headed by Pinarayi Vijayan, had governed since 2016 and even broke the state’s alternating power trend in 2021. With this defeat, that final bastion has now fallen, ending a continuous Communist presence in chief ministerial office in India since 1977.

The UDF continued to consolidate its advantage across constituencies, with Sandeep Varier leading in Trikaripur by 2,270 votes and Fathima Thahilia extending her margin to 5,861 votes in Left stronghold Perambra against T. P. Ramakrishnan. The BJP also made notable inroads, with Rajeev Chandrasekhar leading in Nemom by 4,234 votes, while V. Muraleedharan edged ahead in Kazhakoottam by a narrow margin. Meanwhile, KPCC chief Sunny Joseph thanked voters for the mandate, calling it a clear verdict against the LDF’s governance and policies.

Congress thanks voters for massive mandate; Sunny Joseph to address media again after final results

The Congress-led UDF has opened up a massive lead as counting gains momentum, racing ahead in 100 of Kerala’s 140 seats. The LDF trails at 40, while the NDA remains confined to just one seat, underscoring a decisive early edge for the Opposition.

Jubilation has broken out at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, as the UDF celebrates a commanding lead in the Kerala elections. With projections indicating the alliance could cross the 100-seat mark, the mood in the camp reflects growing confidence of a landslide victory.

The UDF has surged ahead in Idukki and Ettumanoor, reclaiming key seats from Kerala Congress factions and strengthening its position. Meanwhile, LDF MLA Pramod Narayanan is trailing in Ranni, adding to the pressure on the ruling front as UDF workers begin early celebrations across parts of the state.

UDF’s Ramesh Pisharody leading in Palakkad, even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan remains behind in Dharmadam by 2,812 votes after four rounds. LDF minister Kadannappalli Ramachandran is trailing in Kannur, while Karayi Rajan has built a massive lead in Thalassery. In Taliparamba, T. K. Govindan is ahead, and Saji Cherian leads in Chengannur, reflecting a mixed electoral picture.

The UDF has taken a lead in Taliparamba, moving ahead by 974 votes after two rounds of counting, while T. K. Govindan is also leading in the constituency. In Kannur, Kadannappalli Ramachandran is trailing by 2,426 votes.

Meanwhile, in Thalassery, Karayi Rajan has surged ahead with a lead of 11,122 votes. In Chengannur, Saji Cherian is leading by 1,269 votes after two rounds, reflecting a mixed trend across key constituencies.

UDF has taken the lead in Taliparamba, moving ahead by 974 votes after two rounds of counting. Meanwhile, in Peravoor, LDF’s K. K. Shailaja is leading by 453 votes as trends continue to fluctuate across constituencies.

In Ambalappuzha, K. Sudhakaran has opened up a strong lead of 10,000 votes. The UDF is also ahead in Ponnani by 1,461 votes after two rounds. Meanwhile, V. D. Satheesan has slipped behind again in Paravur, and Sunny Joseph is trailing by 453 votes in Peravoor.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan continues to trail in Dharmadam even after the third round. In Thavanur, K. T. Jaleel is behind, while V. S. Joy leads by 4,024 votes, indicating shifting dynamics in key constituencies.

LDF’s P. Prasad has regained the lead in Cherthala by 636 votes after two rounds of counting. In Elathur, A. K. Saseendran continues to trail even after the second round. Meanwhile, LDF’s O. R. Kelu is leading in Mananthavady following counting in stronghold areas.

On the other hand, Veena George is trailing in Aranmula, and K. B. Ganesh Kumar is behind in Pathanapuram. The UDF has surged ahead in Thodupuzha, crossing a lead of 7,000 votes, highlighting strong momentum in several constituencies.

UDF’s Najeeb Kanthapuram is leading in Perinthalmanna, while in Palakkad, BJP’s Shobha Surendran is ahead of UDF’s Ramesh Pisharody. Meanwhile, LDF’s K. Premkumar is leading in Ottappalam, reflecting a mixed picture across key seats as counting progresses.

Early figures from the Election Commission of India show the UDF firmly in command, with the Congress leading in 50 seats, followed by IUML with 20 and Kerala Congress (E) with 5—pushing the alliance well past the halfway mark. The LDF trails, with CPI(M) leading in 31 seats and CPI in 14, indicating a clear early advantage for the opposition bloc.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is trailing by 2,523 votes as counting progresses, marking a significant early setback in this closely watched contest.

The UDF has opened up leads across key constituencies in the Ernakulam belt, staying ahead in Thrippunithura, Perumbavoor, Kochi, Kunnathunad, Muvattupuzha, Thrikkakara and Ernakulam. However, V. D. Satheesan is trailing in Paravur by 243 votes, while LDF’s P. Rajeev is also behind in Kalamassery. The LDF has managed to retain a lead only in Vypin, indicating UDF’s broader advantage in the region.

“There is a clear wave, and the lead will only increase,” said Shafi Parambil, expressing confidence in the UDF’s performance. He noted that it is the people who both build and dismantle political strongholds, and that their verdict is becoming evident. Calling it a responsibility and a mark of public trust, he added that the alliance is hopeful of crossing the 100-seat mark.

As the first hour of counting concludes, the UDF has taken a strong lead across Kerala, pushing ahead in 90 seats and moving closer to a simple majority. The LDF is leading in 45 seats, while the NDA trails with five. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is currently trailing in Dharmadam, where UDF candidate V. P. Abdul Rasheed has opened up a lead of 733 votes. Adding to the LDF’s concerns, nine of its ministers are also behind in early trends.

The UDF has taken the lead in Dharmadam, the constituency of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is leading in Haripad as counting progresses.