4 min readThiruvananthapuramMar 15, 2026 05:55 PM IST
First published on: Mar 15, 2026 at 05:55 PM IST
The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday announced the schedule for the Assembly polls for five states, including Kerala. The state, which has seen bipolar contests between the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), has witnessed the rise of the BJP in recent years. Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 9, while the results will be out with the rest on May 4.
Here are five things to watch out for in Kerala:
CPI(M)’s chance for a hat-trick
The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has been in power for the last decade under Pinarayi Vijayan. Claiming that its government is not under the shadow of anti-incumbency, the Left is seeking a third consecutive term harping on the “changed Kerala” under Vijayan over the last 10 years. The election will reveal whether the changes on various fronts introduced by the Left government have connected with the people, or whether voters make a return to changing the government.
‘Make or break’ for UDF
For the Congress-led UDF, the polls are nothing short of a make-or-break battle. After being in the Opposition for a decade, the Congress sees the outcome in this election as crucial for its political future in Kerala. The UDF and the Congress may not have the strength to withstand yet another electoral defeat. The last time the UDF secured a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections was in 2001 when it won 99 out of 140 seats. Its victory in the 2011 Assembly elections was only by a narrow margin of two seats. Therefore, both the UDF and the Congress are aiming for a clear and decisive mandate this time.
The LDF won its second straight term in the 2021 Assembly polls.
The BJP factor
The BJP, which has been in power at the Centre for the last 12 years, is taking on Kerala electoral battle with a renewed strategy and the campaign slogan “Vikasit Keralam (develop Kerala)”. Two factors are expected to energise the party’s campaign and confidence; its historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram municipal corporation, where the party ended four-decade long Left regime and secondly, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it won its first-ever seat in Kerala.
The BJP has high stakes in Assembly seats of Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu and Kazhakootam, which encompass areas within the Thiruvananthapuram civic body. Besides, the party’s growing vote graph is likely to impact the verdict in many constituencies where the CPI(M) and the Congress are engaged in a bipolar contest.
What happens to Vijayan?
The outcome of the election will answer another question within the CPI(M). Will Vijayan, who has been the face of the party’s politics for the past 10 years, continue to hold that position, or will a new leader emerge as the face of the CPM’s parliamentary politics? Regardless of the election outcome, Vijayan will likely have a decisive say in finding his successor.
Key issues
The politically sensitive issue of women’s entry to the Sabarimala temple is once again expected to surface in the campaign. The state government earlier supported the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter the hill shrine, but it has changed its stand on the matter, triggering accusations that it is trying to walk the tightrope ahead of the polls with Hindu votes in mind.
Conflict between humans and wildlife is also a serious concern in many forest areas, particularly in the high ranges where several people have been killed in attacks by wild elephants, wild boars and other animals. Farmers have also raised the issue of crop destruction and have demanded faster compensation and preventive measures.
The ruling front is likely to project infrastructure development as one of its key achievements, pointing to road development, public transport improvements, port and coastal projects, and the development of local health facilities.