Thiruvananthapuram, May 4: In a surprise political twist, the Indian National Congress has surged ahead in Kerala, leaving its INDIA bloc ally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), trailing in the Assembly election trends released by the Election Commission of India.
As per the latest trends at 11:24 AM, Congress is leading in 58 out of 140 seats, putting it firmly in the driver’s seat in the state. The CPI(M), which currently heads the ruling Left Democratic Front, is lagging behind with 28 seats.
Other key players include the Indian Union Muslim League with 22 seats, Communist Party of India at 11, and Kerala Congress with 7. The Bharatiya Janata Party is leading in just 3 constituencies, while others and independents account for the remaining seats.
The trends, still being updated by Returning Officers across counting centres, point to a dramatic reversal in Kerala’s political landscape, where the Left and Congress have traditionally alternated in power. However, this time, the contest has taken on added significance as both Congress and CPI(M) are key constituents of the INDIA bloc at the national level.
Political observers say the results could strain opposition unity, exposing fault lines within the alliance even before the dust settles on the 2026 Assembly polls.
The Election Commission of India has clarified that these are provisional trends, and final results will be declared after consolidation in Form-20.
If the trends hold, Kerala may be headed for a Congress-led government, delivering a sharp message not just within the state, but across the national opposition landscape.
