Your Ultimate Guide to Kerala Elections 2026
Kerala Elections 2026 are now at the doorstep. It is important to discuss what has happened in the tenure of LDF 2.0, the developments, as well as the controversies. This is perhaps the most important article in this series. We are here to discuss some real issues affecting you and how you can vote in this election.
Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government is taking on a new challenge of seeking a third term. Starting from its stellar victory last time, LDF 2.0 had a massive challenge of uplifting the state from the various waves of COVID-19. Throughout the tenure, the government remained in the limelight, marred by controversies. We will also cover various issues, and how the opposition also raised them in keeping the govt. in check. The LDF government now plans to make development its main plank for the elections. For that, it needs to highlight various projects that it has completed, and we will discuss them in brief as well. LDF always comes to the forefront by issuing a progress report.
Analysis of Kerala Budget 2026
Analysis of important issues in the state
LDF 1.0
There are only two words for describing the LDF 1.0 govt- Crisis Management. It was credited with the handling of various crises such as Okhi, Floods, Nipah, Landslides, and COVID-19. Additionally, some great ministers had done their tasks beautifully. CM Pinarayi Vijayan used to conduct regular press conferences every day during the pandemic. At the same there were various issues such as the Maradu Flat issue, the Sabarimala Women's Entry, Piravom Church Issue, and Deep Fishing Issue. Also, there was a strong continuation of the developmental projects started under the Oomen Chandy government.
Infrastructure
The key term everyone would have heard with respect to infrastructural development is Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB). It started to raise money from the market and use it for the infrastructural development, such as roads, bridges, schools, waterways, etc. This was very controversial at the beginning, and now it has become one of the most celebrated achievements of the government.
In terms of developmental issues, we have the ongoing construction of Kochi Metro Phase-II. The approval for Kochi Metro Phase-III is awaited. Kochi Water Metro, which was started during the first tenure, was operationalised and opened for the public. Its expansion is currently ongoing. There are also metro rail projects planned and ongoing in Kozhikode and Trivandrum.
The NH66 development and widening have been the biggest infrastructural projects that Kerala has seen in recent years. It is transforming the 423km-long highway from Kasargod to Trivandrum from the current 2-lane to a 6-lane highway. The state government claims to have spent Rs 5500 crores for the land acquisition and preliminary works, despite it being done by NHAI. Along with this comes the Aroor-Thuravoor expressway, which is going to be India's elevated flyover.
The Public Works Dept. has done a decent job of building and maintaining the roads. Whether it be a hill highway or a coastal highway, the investments are slowly becoming a reality. Compared to previous govts. We can see this time that it was proactive in terms of improving the condition of the roads. Although there are still several problems, such as waterlogging, flooding, and landslides, as well as the coordination between various departments such as Water Works, PWD, Telecom, etc. There are still several uncompleted projects, such as the Idukki-Kattapana ring road, Trivandrum ring road, Vizhinjam Trivandrum connectivity, among many more.
Coming to the lapses, we have massive failures on the ongoing NH-66 expansions, where the embankments in several stretches have collapsed. It led to a brawl between the LDF, UDF, and BJP over who is responsible for this. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, led by Mr K C Venugopal MP, has identified serious lapses in the design and supervision relating to national highway (NH) projects in Kerala.
KSRTC
Is a household name and an inevitable part of Kerala's intercity, intra-state, and long-distance transport. Many experts had termed it a loss-making enterprise, but currently it has reached an operating profit level under the current Transport Minister, although the overall figures still show it's still in a loss-making position. The best part is that it is able to pay salaries and pensions on time. Under the tenure of LDF2.0, we have seen a big fleet expansion, redevelopment, adoption of the latest technologies, and much more.
Under Minister Antony Raju, there was a massive deployment of electric buses in the Trivandrum city as circular buses. In 2021, KSRTC created its own subsidiary, K-SWIFT, to increase its long-distance services, such as to Mangalore, Kollur, Bangalore, Chennai, etc., incorporating a form of luxury travel which was largely unknown to people of Kerala. It has a large fleet of Volvo Multi-axle sleeper buses, Ashok Leyland Seater buses, and several ordinary buses. The entire initiative was aimed at reducing the financial burden of the KSRTC.
Under Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, the online tracking system, fleet expansion, and improving services such as drinking water and food in the buses. Along with this come modernisation ideas such as bringing business-class buses, women-only buses, and much more. Now you can book your tickets digitally, get notifications, track the buses, etc., through online services. There was also a KSRTC Exhibition conducted under his leadership as he is a fan of buses and vehicles and owns a large collection of models. There was a special personal touch that he had brought to the ministry.
Aluva, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Thamarrassery, Kottarakara, Kollam, etc., have seen their KSRTC bus depots getting developed and renovated recently through a joint venture of KSRTC and the local MLAs. Recently, there has also been the induction of double-decker buses in Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Kochi, and Thrissur, which has been a big boost to the tourism sector.
Talking about the downsides, KSRTC hasn't had a single PSC appointment for the past ten years. The staffing has been fully temporary or on a contractual basis through K-SWIFT to reduce their financial burden. Once bought luxury JNNURM AC buses in Trivandrum and Kochi have suddenly vanished. There were also several controversies regarding the adoption of electric buses, service disruptions, rising diesel prices, etc. The concerns of workload, behaviour of staff, increased working hours, and even the opposition of Trade Unions against the creation of K-SWIFT have created unease among the staunch left supporters, as LDF is claimed to be pro-workers.
Digitisation
The past few years saw a massive jump in the digitisation field. KFON and KiFi are two main core digital infrastructural initiatives started in the first term but continued in the second. Secondly, K-SMART was initiated to make local governance more accessible and affordable to the public through digital means. It is available both as a web portal and a mobile app.
The government has been pushing for the development of AI. There have been several AI conclaves held as well. The most notable has been the Gen AI Conclave in Kochi, held in 2024, conducted by KSIDC. Similarly, there was another AI conclave in 2026 conducted by IHRD.
Cultural Issues
How does Kerala, as a state, identify itself? What changes are happening in the socio-political discourse? There was a significant push for gender neutrality, mainly in textbooks and in uniforms. There was a strong backlash from religious organisations against this. There was also an attempt to change the school timings to ensure the attentiveness of students, but again, several Muslim Organisations came into opposition. The government had to put this move on hold. The Hema Committee report on problems faced by women in cinema was submitted, but was not taken up seriously.
The Union cabinet approves the renaming of the state of Kerala to Keralam based on the state assembly resolution in 2024, ahead of the elections. There will be a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament. Only after parliamentary approval does the name change take effect.
The New Malayalam Language Bill 2026 takes effect as the Governor has given his assent to the bill. This bill says that Malayalam will be the only official language of Kerala (for official communication, governance, and education). It replaces the Kerala Official Languages Act, 1969, which recognised both English and Malayalam as official languages.
Bar timings increased from 11PM to 12 AM in a very tourism-friendly state, yet culturally conservative state areas and population that oppose this. Just days before the election was declared, the decision was claimed to be unilaterally taken.
The Munambam issue was prominent between the Kerala Waqf Board and locals in the region, who are largely Christian fishermen. The Board claimed 404 acres of land as waqf property, raising communal tensions as political parties and religious organisations were involved.
Housing
There were several achievements that the government can claim in this regard. The most important one has been the Life Mission, where 4.5 lakh homes were constructed and delivered. Wayanad landslide survivors get new homes as Kerala CM inaugurated the Wayanad Model Township for 402 families. There were a lot of controversies between the LDF and the UDF over the construction of houses and rehabilitation. IUML has also built houses for a handful of families.
The Coastal Housing Punegraham project aimed to relocate the fisherfolk community to safer areas. The resettlement of Vizhinjam families was also carried out by building flat complexes. BJP claims that the Life Mission is actually their project (PMAY) and the funds come from the centre. The Kerala govt countered it, saying that 72% of the funds for houses were obtained without central funds, hence it is a state project.
Welfare
The social security welfare pensions have been increased to Rs 2000/month from Rs 1600/month despite their promise to make it 2500/month. Onam kits were distributed to all in 2022. Rs 1,000 per month for women who are not covered under other schemes, announced. 99.64 crore for the welfare of minority communities. The Work Scholarship scheme provides ₹1,000 monthly financial assistance for up to a year to educated, unemployed youth aged 18-30.
Deceased figures and their Impact
In the past five years, we have had several dignitaries who passed away, but the most significant were two ex-CMs who commanded a lot of respect and power in Kerala's electoral politics.
Oomen Chandy- As the ex-CM, he was seen as a benevolent leader. His Mass Contact programme was very well acclaimed by his government. His son, Chandy Oommen, has strong support in the constituency of Puthupally.
V S Achuthanandan- As the ex-CM, he was seen as a tall and public figure; he was a pro-public person and conducted several protests, dharnas, and activism. His PA, A Suresh, is contesting as a UDF candidate in Malampuzha. VS was also given the Padma Bhushan by the Union Government.
Claims of LDF 2.0
There were several claims that the Kerala government, led by the CPIM, made in the past few years. The biggest claims come from the health sector. There are 42 lakh families who have availed the Karunya Aaroga Suraksha Pathithi (KASP) insurance scheme at 5 lakh per year. Kerala Institute of Organ Transplantation (K-IOT) was started in Kozhikode to focus on advanced organ transplantation in the state. The Kottayam Medical College has become India's first public hospital to perform three organ transplants a day (Heart, Lung, and Kidney). The Ernakulam General Hospital becomes the first district-level hospital in India to perform a heart transplant.
Even speaking of the achievements in healthcare, we have witnessed a lot of negative news, ranging from the scissors being misplaced inside a patient's body, issues of funding, and instruments made by Dr Harris in Trivandrum. Most importantly, it was the collapse of a block in Kottayam Medical College, which killed one person. There was a big problem for the Health Minister, who acted in an insensitive manner. Instead of taking responsibility, the minister blamed the system. There were also multiple strikes by the doctors' union for the increase in pay.
The biggest claim of the government has been that Kerala has become Extreme Poverty Free through the EPEP programme, which is a joint project of the state government and local self-governments. It was successful in locating and transforming the lives of 64,000 families. Although there have been several questions raised against the governments on their claims and lack of verification by a third party.
Another significant claim has been that Kerala has been a powercut-free state without load-shedding. Along with this, there have been no communal riots in the past 10 years. Although there have been various communal issues that have been constantly raised along with the Sabarimala issue, which saw massive statewide violence in the late 2018 and early 2019 period.
Controversies
We saw the last five years as rich with a lot of controversies, mainly putting the ruling LDF government on its back foot.
K-Rail was seen as one of the big projects that LDF 2.0 planned, but it hit a roadblock as both UDF and BJP openly opposed. After the results of the Thrikkakara bypolls, the CPI-M-led LDF had abandoned the same. Only in the 2026 budget did LDF take up the Rapid Rail Transport as an alternative to the same, while the BJP has started talking about HSR in Kerala through E Sreedharan.
Nava Kerala Citizen Response Programme, or Nava Kerala Survey, is a tool to survey and plan the future programmes of the Kerala government. The opposition has flagged it as a misuse of public funds for the party's PR operations. This can be seen as a follow-up of the Nava Kerala Sadas, which happened two years back when the entire CM and cabinet travelled in a Rs 1.05 crore bus in all the 140 constituencies. After the event, they gave the bus to KSRTC to operate on the Kozhikode-Bangalore route.
The Kerala government, just after signing the PM Shri agreement with the Central government, did a full U-turn after a protest from the ally partner CPI and opposition parties. It would have released a whopping Rs 1500 crore to the education system, but the opposition claimed it was part of a compromise deal to allow the NEP in the state, as well as implement the RSS agenda. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the LDF government had a tense relationship at the start, but both of them arrived at a compromise, especially on the Kerala University issue and pending bills. The opposition claimed that this is the continuation of the LDF-BJP deal.
The NH66 embankment collapse across the various parts of the state was seen as a big failure of both the NHAI and the state government. Then a political brawl started between both the UDF and LDF, dragging the NDA also into the debate. Both BJP and the CPI (M), who took credit for NH work were absent for taking the responsibilty of the collapse.
In November 2025, the ED issued a ₹466.91 crore show-cause notice by the ED against CM and the former FM on KIIFB related to violations in the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). CPIM raised the issue of misuse of the ED by the BJP government. But here, the opposition asked the ED why the CM was not arrested.
The Public Service Commission was one of the most important organisations in the recruitment of government officials; fingers were raised against CPI-M for allowing backdoor entry to several loyalists. But the biggest issue was the lack of vacancies and the lack of extension on the rank lists. The pro-youth LDF government has failed to give hope to the youth in this regard, in a state with one of the highest unemployment rates.
Another issue was the footballer Lionel Messi, and his Argentina team would come to Kochi to play an international match, and Kerala football fans would get excited. Although the team never came and the sports minister publicly accused the Argentina Football Association (AFA) of "cheating" the state. The Kerala govt claims it will move legally against it. The UDF has accused the LDF of a PR stunt and of trying to win over the public through this.
Sabarimala was a key issue in the LDF 1.0, and it resurfaced once again in the LDF 2.0 at the end of the second term. LDF held a massive Ayyappa Sangamam for the development of the pilgrimage centre. Even the community groups, such as NSS and SNDP, supported it. Soon after, there was a big controversy over the stealing of gold, in which several leaders of the CPI (M) party were implicated. In the local elections, the gold theft case became the biggest issue, creating a massive influence in the fall of the LDF. Recently, the LDF-led Kerala government has also changed its stance on allowing women's entry to Sabarimala. It had previously backfired heavily in the first term. The critics have termed this strong pro-Hindu and pro-Hindutva pitch made by LDF as "Left Hindutva".
1. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was a big discussion just weeks before the election. Over 24 lakh voters were excluded, and now, after the final revision, over 9 lakh voters were excluded. Opposition across India had made it a big issue during the same and so it was a big issue.
Seats to Watch out for
1. Pala
2. Thripunithra
3. Nemom
4. Kunnathunadu
5. Manjeshwaram
6. Nemom
7. Nadapuram
8. Palakkad
9. Thrithala
10. Trivandrum
11. Thrissur
12. Vattiyurkavu
13. Tribvandurm
14. Konni
15. Kazhakootam
16. Aranmula
17. Kochi
18. Kollam
19. Kottarakara
20. Peravoor
21. Thavanoor
22. Kozhikode South
23. Ranni
24. Thiruvambady
25. Manaloor
26. Thiruvalla
27. Kannur
28. Ettumanoor
29. Changanassery
K Kerala Elections 2026 Podcast
Highlights from manifestos
It's raining freebies in Kerala this election, from all the parties this election.
UDF- Five guarantees- Free KSRTC Bus ride for women, Rs 1000/month for college girls, Rs 25 lakh insurance per family, 2000/month for household women, and a new ministry for senior citizens.
LDF- Campus placement for all students, make KSRTC profitable, eradicate absolute poverty, "Zero Food Poisoning" state by 2031, extension of KFON, metros in Kozhikode and Trivandrum.
NDA- 3000/month for women heads of BPL families, one LPG cylinder free on Onam and Christmas, High Speed Rail, CBI enquiry into Sabarimala theft case,
All have promised 3000/- as welfare pensions.
Party Politics
LDF- There were three Mekhala Jaatha led by LDF just before the elections to energise the cadre. LDF eyes a record third term, disrupting the normal alternating bipolar politics. It is expected that the development-based pitch will be backed by strong welfare. In the past five years, we can see that the government has never followed any ideological line and has purely banked on practical politics. There was a strong infrastructural pitch that was successfully used along with the popularity of MLAs. In both WB and Tripura, CPIM ruled continuously, while in Kerala, power alternated between the UDF and LDF. This has not only helped the Left but also Congress, which is on a perpetual decline across the country, yet fairly strong in Kerala. CPIM in Kerala has a grassroots connect that constantly interacts with people. Being in opposition allowed CPIM to strengthen its foothold across the state and actually understand people's issues, which is not possible when you're in power.
UDF- The local elections indicate the presence of strong anti-incumbency against the CM, the CPI (M), and the LDF. Similarly, all the anti-incumbency vote is centred around the UDF and not the BJP, which it hopes to fulfil. There was a Puthuyuga Yatra, led by Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, which was a month-long Kerala UDF campaign aimed at "reclaiming Kerala" from LDF rule. UDF was also successful in winning the local elections, almost all the bypolls, and most importantly, the Lok Sabha elections. Banking on the Five Indira Guarantees to consolidate its victory. Even though it's fairly ahead, it needs a stronger victory with a big margin. Opposition leader VD Satheesan alleged that Kerala's public debt has escalated to ₹6 lakh crore due to the ruling LDF government's mismanagement, forcing significant financial distress on the state. Coming to the 5 guarantees, there is nothing that the Team UDF said on how they will be able to fund those schemes or how to increase the state revenues.
BJP/NDA- Looks to disrupt the LDF-UDF duopoly and become an important player in the state politics. It won the first corporation and the first Lok Sabha seat. India's first corporate party, Twenty-Twenty, has joined the NDA ahead of the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026. Here's why it will help the BJP. The party is strong in areas where the BJP is weak- rural Ernakulam. Similarly, it tried to contest in urban areas such as Kochi, too, where it was able to defeat the UDF heavily. So the party has a good swing of voters. Lastly, it helps in the BJP's Christian outreach through a face like Sabu M Jacob. On the other side, Twenty Twenty voters might hate the BJP like any other party, and also due to Hindutva. Firstly, the name hasn't been changed yet, but BJP leaders, including PM Modi, have only used the word "Keralam". All the flex boards welcoming PM Modi had used "Keralam". Suresh Gopi MP also used the word. Most importantly, PM Modi took subtle credit for the name change while saying that it was a long-standing demand of the people that we fulfilled. BJP continues to grow in Kerala, and we correlated it with the national picture. Even when we say BJP stands for Hindutva, it has equally given emphasis on development & law and order. It was successful in selling the Gujarat model and UP model (law and order). A significant society of Kerala believes that the BJP does development, and it deserves a chance even if it plays communal politics.
How to Vote?
Even if you haven’t understood any of the above-mentioned issues but are on the voting list this time, then you can check this section and understand how you can vote wisely.
Know your candidate
The main factor that sets it apart is the candidate set that has an effect beyond the party lines. We don’t have presidential elections or party-based elections. Know the candidates contesting from your constituency. Check their previous political record, ideology, criminal records, educational background, etc. Always look for their outstanding past instances or events. Look for candidates beyond party lines and decide who can represent you better, how far they are approachable, or what all are their plans are for the next term.
Check manifesto
More important than party ideology is the party manifesto, where the party decides its road map for the next five years. The infrastructure plans, educational policy, new schemes, healthcare policy, financial policy, and a lot more.
Loyalty
Inspect the loyalty of the candidate to the party as well as the commitment of the party to the alliance at large. Will the candidate you are choosing stay loyal to your vote? Will he/she change party or defect? Will he go against what he has promised you?
Know the issues
We have discussed in detail many issues. Hopefully, you will keep them in mind as you cast your vote. Understand the previous track record of the governments in giving importance to issues. Health, education, agriculture, law and order, state roads, etc., are the most important state-based issues. Also, try to focus on local constituency-based issues, the history of constituents, the track record of the MLA, the amount of funds allocated, etc.
Kerala Elections in a Nutshell
LDF wants this election to be 140 different battles fought by their candidates, with the popularity of their MLAs, backed up by the cadre.
UDF wants a unified battle against the state government, talking about the deal issue, Sabarimala, and anti-incumbency.
BJP wants to win 5 seats and be second in 50, so that they can be the principal opposition in the state soon.
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