Counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Kerala commenced at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, bringing to a close a high-stakes electoral contest involving the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP-led NDA.
The process is being carried out at 140 counting centres across 43 locations in the state. Strongrooms storing electronic voting machines were opened around 6:30 a.m. in the presence of Election Commission of India (ECI) observers, security personnel, and candidates’ representatives, ensuring transparency in the counting process.
Early trends indicate a clear edge for the Indian National Congress-led UDF, which has taken the lead across multiple constituencies. The counting began with postal ballots, which account for approximately 1.36% of the total votes polled. A clearer picture of the final outcome is expected by the afternoon as more rounds are completed.
In Idukki district, the UDF is leading in all five constituencies, reflecting strong early momentum. In Thodupuzha, UDF candidate Appu John Joseph is ahead, while Senapathy Venu has taken a lead in Udumbanchola. In Devikulam, F. Raja is leading, and Cyriac Thomas is ahead in Peerumedu. In Idukki, UDF’s Roy K. Paulose has secured an early lead, while State Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine is trailing.
The trends suggest a challenging scenario for the LDF, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), as well as the BJP-led NDA, as the UDF looks to consolidate its advantage across the state.
As counting progresses, all eyes remain on whether the Congress-led alliance can sustain its lead and return to power in Kerala after a closely fought contest.
