Thiruvananthapuram: In what is being seen as a major political shift, the Indian National Congress has surged ahead in Kerala, putting the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) on the back foot in its last remaining stronghold in the country.
Early trends from the 140-member Kerala Assembly show Congress leading in a commanding 56 seats and already winning 7, taking its tally to 63. In contrast, CPI(M) is trailing behind with 24 leads and just 3 wins, totaling 27 — a sharp setback for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left Democratic Front.
The Indian Union Muslim League, a key Congress ally, is also putting up a strong show with 22 seats (1 win, 21 leads), further consolidating the United Democratic Front’s momentum. Other Left allies like the Communist Party of India and Kerala Congress are trailing significantly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party remains a marginal player in the state, leading in just 2 seats, unable to make a significant dent despite aggressive campaigning.
With 129 seats still in the “leading” column and counting underway, the trend clearly indicates a strong anti-incumbency wave against the Left government. If these numbers hold, it could mark the end of Left dominance in Kerala — a state long considered its ideological bastion.
