UDF Leads in Kerala as Congress Alliance Crosses 100 Seats, Major Setback for Pinarayi Vijayan
Early counting trends show a strong lead for the Congress led UDF, pushing LDF into a distant second place in Kerala.
Kochi: In the ongoing counting of votes for the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026, the Congress led United Democratic Front has surged ahead with a commanding lead, signaling a major political shift in the state.
After six hours of counting that began at 8 am on Monday, the UDF has secured a clear advantage in 101 seats in the 140 member assembly. This performance has exceeded its pre election target of 100 seats, putting the alliance in a strong position to return to power. In contrast, the ruling Left Democratic Front led by the CPI M appears to have been reduced to around 40 seats based on early trends.
One of the most notable victories came from Chandy Oommen, son of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who won from Puthuppally with a massive margin of 52,907 votes. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also delivered a decisive win in Haripad, securing victory by more than 23,000 votes. These results have reinforced the long standing pattern of power alternation in the state and indicated growing public dissatisfaction with the Pinarayi Vijayan led government.
The National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP is also facing a disappointing outcome, with reports suggesting it is leading in only two seats. In Thrissur, Padmaja Venugopal reportedly finished in third place, marking another setback for the alliance.
Meanwhile, the Indian Union Muslim League has performed strongly, leading in 23 out of its 27 contested seats. State president Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal credited the performance to unity within the UDF and said voters have clearly chosen change.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is also facing a tight contest in his own constituency of Dharmadam, where he is locked in a close fight with Congress candidate V P Abdul Rasheed. Political reactions have described this development as a significant signal from voters.
UDF candidates have also registered important wins in constituencies such as Perumbavoor and Vypin, further strengthening the alliance’s overall position. With celebrations breaking out in Congress camps, political observers say that if these trends continue, the UDF is well placed to form the next government.
Attention is now turning to the Governor’s office, where formal steps toward government formation are expected once the final results are confirmed.