The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) crossed the halfway mark in Kerala as per official trends released by the Election Commission of India, securing leads in 82 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The Indian National Congress is leading in around 50 seats, while its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League, is ahead in 17 seats. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is trailing with 51 leads.
State Congress president Sunny Joseph attributed the LDF’s performance to governance failures, stating that “Anti-people policies” had led to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s rout.
Congress MP Jebi Mather said the alliance’s performance had exceeded expectations. “We have crossed 89, just 11 seats to 100. It is beyond what the exit polls had projected. People of Kerala have gifted a decisive victory to Congress-led UDF. It is a moment of excitement, exuberance, and pride. We are thakful and grateful to the people of Kerala. This is also a reflection of how the CPI(M)-led LDF was a miserable failure and the anti-incumbency factor played very well…” she said.
Counting Across Key States
Counting is underway across 823 constituencies in key regions, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The process began with postal ballots, followed by counting of Electronic Voting Machines from 8:30 am, with round-wise results being updated in real time on official platforms.
Security has been tightened across all counting centres. In West Bengal’s Malda, armoured vehicles were deployed for patrols as counting began. Strong rooms were opened in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry ahead of the process.
Clashes and Allegations in West Bengal
Tensions were reported at counting centres in West Bengal, where polling agents of rival parties clashed verbally. A Trinamool Congress (TMC) agent alleged discrimination, stating, “They are not allowing us to take files or pens inside, but the BJP polling agents are allowed to take them inside. Rules should be the same for everyone. We are the people of Mamata Banerjee. There is no bigger identity than this.”
In response, a BJP agent claimed that TMC representatives were violating rules. “They are not carrying their ID cards. We are wearing our ID cards. They are creating a ruckus unnecessarily. BJP is winning with a majority in West Bengal and even in Bhabanipur,” the agent said.
Exit polls had earlier indicated a tight contest between the BJP and TMC in West Bengal, with varying projections suggesting either a BJP edge or a closely fought battle.
Tharoor Calls for Policy Shift
As trends showed the Congress leading in more than 50 seats in Kerala, senior leader Shashi Tharoor stressed the need for change.
“I think right now we’ve got enough contenders. What matters now is that there should be a change of government, a change of policy and a revival of Kerala,” he said.
© x.com/ShashiTharoorHighlighting economic concerns, Tharoor added, “I hope that I can count on my ideas also being of some use to the new government, but my message will certainly be development, completely changing the disastrous fiscal situation, really doing essential work to make Kerala once again a haven for investment, so that we can grow, generate jobs for our people and prevent a situation where our young people are fleeing the state because they feel they have no possibilities.”
Constituency-Level Trends
According to official data, Congress candidates are leading in 49 seats, while CPI(M) candidates are ahead in 29. Several candidates have registered leads exceeding 1,000 votes in early rounds.
In Irikkur, Congress candidate Sajeev Joseph is leading by more than 5,000 votes. Meanwhile, CPI(M) candidates in Payyannur and Kalliasseri are ahead by similar margins, with Thalassery and Chelakkara also showing strong leads for the Left.
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