United Democratic Front repeats sterling performance in Kerala

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has retained its lead in Kerala, winning 18 out of 20 seats in the coastal state, with AICC leader Rahul Gandhi leading the winning spree. Gandhi won by a margin of about 3.64 lakh votes from Wayanad, his second victory from the constituency bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The ruling CPI's (M) tally remains one -- the figure it won in 2019, too, as the party continued with its lacklustre performance. Kerala is the only state where the Left is in power, and the ruling party ended up with one seat despite its best efforts to win over voters.

Sections of locals attribute the electoral outcome to voters' disappointment with Pinarayi Vijayan's regime which is into its second term. After yearslong efforts, the BJP has successfully penetrated Kerala, with superstar Suresh Gopi winning the Thrissur seat.


In Thiruvananthapuram, sitting Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has won for a fourth time after a tough fight with MoS (MeitY) Rajeev Chandrasekhar. AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has wrested Alappuzha, the only seat the Left had won in 2019.

The results have given a big dose of hope for the UDF in the assembly polls due in two years.