Kerala goes to the polls on April 9, 2026, in a high-stakes Assembly election. Follow real-time updates as votes are cast and the state prepares for the results on May 4.
People show their ink-marked fingers after they cast vote for the Kerala assembly election. (ANI)
Kerala Election 2026 LIVE: Kerala has started voting for next big political showdown to choose 140 members of the Legislative Assembly on 9 April 2026. The counting of votes will take place on 4 May 2026.
The current assembly’s term ends on 23 May 2026, with the last election held in April 2021. Back then, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) returned to power, securing 99 out of 140 seats, and Pinarayi Vijayan continued as Chief Minister.
Advertisement
According to the Election Commission of India, Kerala has 26,953,644 eligible voters, including 13,126,048 males, 13,827,319 females, and 277 transgender voters.
Advertisement
Let us give you a quick background of contesting parties.
The LDF, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is the ruling alliance in Kerala. For the 2026 elections, the alliance has announced its seat-sharing plan as follows:
| Party | Leader | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | M. V. Govindan | 80 |
| Communist Party of India | Binoy Viswam | 21 |
| Kerala Congress (Mani) | Jose K. Mani | 12 |
| Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) | Thomas K. Thomas | 3 |
| Rashtriya Janata Dal | M. V. Shreyams Kumar | 3 |
| Indian Socialist Janata Dal | Mathew T. Thomas | 1 |
| Indian National League | Ahamed Devarkovil | 1 |
| Congress (Secular) | Kadannappalli Ramachandran | 1 |
| Kerala Congress (B) | K. B. Ganesh Kumar | 1 |
| Revolutionary Socialist Party (Leninist) | Kovoor Kunjumon | 1 |
| Independents | – | 16 |
| Total | – | 140 |
The UDF, led by the Indian National Congress, is the main opposition alliance. Its seat-sharing for the 2026 elections is as follows:
| Party | Leader | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Indian National Congress | Sunny Joseph | 92 |
| Indian Union Muslim League | Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal | 26 |
| Kerala Congress | P. J. Joseph | 8 |
| Revolutionary Socialist Party | Shibu Baby John | 4 |
| Kerala Congress (Jacob) | Anoop Jacob | 1 |
| Revolutionary Marxist Party of India | N. Venu | 1 |
| Communist Marxist Party | C. P. John | 1 |
| Independents | – | 7 |
| Total | – | 140 |
The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is trying to expand its presence in the state. The NDA’s seat-sharing plan for 2026 is:
| Party | Leader | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatiya Janata Party | Rajeev Chandrasekhar | 98 |
| Bharath Dharma Jana Sena | Thushar Vellapally | 22 |
| Twenty20 Party | Sabu M. Jacob | 19 |
| Independent | – | 1 |
| Total | – | 140 |
Aam Aadmi Party is also contesting in the 2026 elections, although on a smaller scale.
| Party | Leader | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Aam Aadmi Party | Vinod Mathew Wilson | 60 |
Kerala has witnessed intense campaigning across all 140 constituencies. Citizens, parties, and election observers are gearing up for a closely watched political contest now.
Advertisement
