Thiruvananthapuram, May 4 (PTI) The Congress-led UDF on Monday maintained its massive lead in the Kerala Assembly polls as counting of votes entered the fag end in many constituencies, with trends showing that the opposition alliance set to reach its 100 seats target.
After several rounds of counting in the six hours since tallying began at 8 am, the United Democratic Front was leading in 101 of the 140 Assembly seats, while the CPI(M)-led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) was ahead in just under 40 constituencies.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was leading in only in two seats, according to television reports.
If the Left loses Kerala, the party would be left with no Indian state where it would be in the ruling saddle.
The trends also indicated setbacks for the ruling front, with at least a dozen ministers trailing in their respective constituencies.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was behind in Dharmadam, his traditional stronghold in Kannur district, in the initial rounds.
However, in the subsequent rounds of counting he took back the lead and was ahead by over 8,000 votes after 12 of the 15 rounds were over.
Among other ministers facing early deficits were 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, Kadannappally Ramachandran A K Saseendran and Roshy Augustine.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan was also trailing in his sitting seat of Perambra in Kozhikode district, according to television reports.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala won by over 23,000 votes against his nearest rival from CPI in the Haripad Assembly seat, while K Karunakaran’s daughter Padmaja Venugopal’s hopes of winning from the Thrissur Assembly constituency were foiled for a third time.
UDF-back independent candidate from Payyannur assembly seat, a CPI(M) stronghold, V Kunhikrishnan also won.
Several rebel and dissident candidates with past links to the CPI(M), like Kunhikrishnan, also made notable gains.
Former senior CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran, who did not renew his party membership, from Ambalapuzha assembly seat and T K Govindan, who exited the party after party state secretary M V Govindan’s wife P K Shyamala was fielded from Thaliparamba, were in the lead after several rounds of counting.
Euphoric celebrations were witnessed at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, here as the trends 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.
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 Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is putting up a strong performance in the Kerala Assembly elections, credited the UDF’s teamwork for the alliance’s resounding showing, as it was leading in 23 of the 27 seats it contested.
Anti-incumbency appears to have played a significant role against the CPI(M)-led government, which has been in power for two successive terms under Vijayan.
Voters in several constituencies seemed to express discontent with the incumbent administration, amid repeated allegations from the opposition regarding corruption and charges of nepotism in governance.
The UDF also appears to have benefited from a consolidation of minority votes in many regions, which traditionally act as a decisive bloc in Kerala’s electoral politics.
Additionally, the Congress campaign, led nationally by top party leader Rahul Gandhi, focused heavily on welfare assurances, including targeted outreach to women voters through promises linked to financial support and social security, which may have resonated in the early trends.
If the current leads translate into results, it could mark the end of a decade-long rule by Vijayan and the LDF government in the state. Such an outcome would be politically significant, not only because the Left was attempting to secure a rare third consecutive term, but also because it would signal a shift in Kerala’s electoral pattern, which has historically seen power alternate between the LDF and the UDF.
Congress veteran and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan was trailing in North Paravoor constituency initially, but later regained the lead.
Reacting to the early trends, Sunny Joseph said the results pointed to a clear pro-UDF wave. “This is a strong indication. We are confident of reaching the 100-seat mark,” he told a television channel.
Counting began at 8 am across 140 centres in the state, starting with postal ballots. Officials said a clearer picture is expected by the evening as more rounds are completed.
The election is being closely watched as a high-stakes contest between the ruling LDF, which is seeking a rare third consecutive term, and the UDF, which is aiming to return to power after nearly a decade.
The NDA, though not seen as a contender for power, is hoping to improve its presence and vote share in the state. PTI HMP TBA LGK TGB HMP KH
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