Kerala Assembly Elections results highlights: LDF set to return to power, Vijayan hails win as 'victory of people'

Counting is underway in Kerala today and the LDF is set to secure a second term in a historic win, breaking a 40-year-old jinx of the state of swinging between the Communists and the Congress-headed UDF. The BJP is facing disappointment in the state as all its key candidates are trailing.

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For constituency-wise results from Kerala Assembly elections, check out the map

Kerala Health minister K K Shailaja wins by a record margin of 60,963 votes from Mattannur

No swearing-in tomorrow, says Kerala CM

"The news that the swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow is not true. The resignation will be submitted when I reach Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow. The rest will be decided after discussion with the party and the Front," Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

PM Modi congratulates Pinarayi Vijayan

Humbly accept people's mandate: Rahul Gandhi after assembly poll results

After the party's poor performance in assembly elections in five states, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said it humbly accepts the people's mandate and it will continue to fight for its values and ideals.

Stalin greets Vijayan, Mamata

DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday congratulated Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for leading the CPI(M) and TMC towards victory in the Assembly polls in the respective states.

In a tweet, Stalin hailed Vijayan's "decisive leadership."

Stalin, whose party was leading in Tamil Nadu, which also went to polls on April 6, in sufficient numbers to form a government on its own, expressed confidence Banerjee will lead her state towards growth and prosperity. "On behalf of DMK, I congratulate Comrade @vijayanpinarayi for leading his party to victory in the Kerala state elections," Stalin said in a tweet.

"The BJP had claimed a big victory this time saying that they will be forming a government. They even said they don't need the usual majority. That's when we said that the account they have, we will close. Big leaders including the Prime Minister campaigned. They spent a lot of money, too. But now, it's time for them to realise the reality of Kerala's speciality. Communalism will not work here like in some other states," said Pinarayi Vijayan.

This election will see BJP's account getting closed in Kerala, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said in an address to party workers after LDF's imminent victory. "This is not the time to celebrate our huge win. Many wanted to celebrate but they have held back. Our fight against COVID will continue," he said.

Covid protocols set during Bihar elections were kept intact during these elections. All the guidelines were implemented in all polling states (Assembly and bye-elections): ECI

Polling officials did an exemplary job. This is the biggest democratic exercise in the world during the pandemic after Bihar elections: ECI

ECI's press conference at 6 pm

BJP's sole seat of Nemom seems to be in danger asCPI(M)'s VSivankutty is making significant gainsof over 5,000 votes over BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan. Congress leader KMuraleedharan is at a distant third position.

Shashi Tharoor congratulates Pinarayi Vijayan

Delhi CM congratulates Pinarayi Vijayan

Poll results: Pawar congratulates Mamata, Vijayan and Stalin

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday congratulated Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and M K Stalin as their parties look set to win the assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively.

The counting of votes for the assembly elections in these states is currently on.

In West Bengal, ruling Trinamool Congress looks set to retain power with its candidates leading in 202 of the state's 292 seats that went to poll against the BJP's 79, as trends were available for 286 seats.

Results for these candidates declared

In Chelakkara, K Radhakrishnan of CPI(M) has wonagainst Congress's C Sreekumar by a margin of 39,400.

In Devikulam, CPI (M)'s A Raja wn against Congress's D Kumar.

In Kozhikode South,Ahmad Devarkovil of Indian National League won.

In Vadakara,KK Rema of Revolutionary Party of India (Marxist) won.

The CPI(M) has almost confirmed its win in the Centra Travancore district, on the back of the party's victory in the recent local body elections. The LDF is leading comfortably in ten out of the 14 seats across Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

UDF is maintaining a healthy lead in Aluva, Angamaly and Perumbavoor constituencies in Ernakulam district as counting entered final stage.

Congress'Oommen Chandy commented on Congress' defeat in Kerala and said, "We will discuss with our colleagues and examine what happened. I have come to know that my majority is over 8,000 votes. I don't know the panchayat-level trends. Congress has lost in the pastbut has also returned to top form afterwards."

Metro Man E Sreedharan trailing in Palakkad, sitting MLA Shafi Parambhi maintains lead of over 3,000 votes.

Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja leads from Mattannur with over 60,000 votes.

Two-time former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has won from Puthupally seat

BJP's K Surendran lost from the Manjeshwar assembly constituency, News18 reported.Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)’s AKM Ashraf has won the seat.

Official EC trends for Kerala as of 3.40 PM

Nilambur is witnessing an unusual contest between LDF's PV Anwar, who has a slight lead over Congress candidate late VV Prakash. Prakash died of a heart attack recently and if he gets more votes than Anwar,Nilambur will have to go through a bye-election. If Anwar wins, it will be his second term.

Health Minister K KShailaja, who is leading in Mattannur constituency, asked voters to abide by Covid-19 protocol and to witness LDF's victory from their homes.

"Kerala won. Witness that win by staying inside your homes. I once again remind everyone not to forget Covid-19 protocols," she posted on Facebook.

Thank people of Kerala for reposing faith in LDF govt: Sitaram Yechury

With the CPI(M)-led LDF set to return to power in Kerala, the party's general secretary Sitaram Yechury in a video message on Sunday thanked the state's electorate for showing confidence in the party and vowed that the Left party will continue to fight the challenges faced by people.

With the initial trends from the state showing the ruling LDF maintaining its lead in 88 of the 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala while the opposition Congress-headed UDF was ahead in 50 segments, as per trends available till 10.30 am, Yechury seemed confident that his party will emerge triumphant. (PTI)

After a tough fightin Thrithala, UDF’s incumbent V TBalram conceded defeat to LDF’s M BRajesh.Balram wasseeking a third term from the constituency. He was challenged by youngCPI(M) leader Rajesh. Even before the counting had concluded,Balram saidin a Facebook post, "I humbly accept peoples' verdict in Thrithala. Best wishes to the new government."

LDF to break four-decade-old trend with its victory

The ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala is all set to retain power as it is leading at least in 94 of the 140 assembly seats as counting is still in progress.

If they win, they will buck the over four-decade-old trend of swinging between the Communists and the Congress-headed UDF in the southern state. As per theElection Commission figures, the LDF is ahead in 85 seats, while the opposition Congress-headed UDF is leading in 44segments and the BJP-NDA, in three constituencies.

BJP's E Sreedharan, who was leading in Palakkad, is now trailing UDF candidate Shafi Parambil. UDF is leading by 178 votes. NDA's lead in the state has been brought down to zero.

JUST IN | CPM's Sivankutty is leading by 1,576 votes,pushing BJP's Kummanam to second place in saffron party's lone seat, Nemom.

Key constituency: Beypore

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) national president P AMohammed Riyas is leadding by 12,000 votes over KPCC general secretary P M Niyas. Riyas is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

In Kerala Assembly Election 2016, Communist Party Of India (Marxist) candidate Mammed Koya V K C won Beypore constituency seat by a margin of 9.30% beating Indian National Congress candidate Adam Mulsi M P by 14,363 votes.

Party will decide if I become health minister: K K Shailaja

Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja, who is currency leading from her seat, told NDTV, "The considerable lead is not only for mebut for the party. Our CM has announced all through that we will be coming back in this election. We were sure that we would be re-elected because of our developmental measures. I cannot say if I will be the health minister,that's for the Left front to decide."

Counting of votes in Kozhikode for the Kerala Assembly

Key constituency: Haripad

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is holding his lead in Haripad by 9,526 votes.

In Kerala Assembly Election 2016, Indian National Congress candidate Ramesh Chennithala won Haripad constituency seat by a margin of 12.50% beating Communist Party Of India candidate P.Prasad by 18,621 votes.

Know more about the constituency here

CM Pinarayi Vijayan leads by over 7,000 votes in Dharmadam.

Know more about the constituency here

In Palakkad, BJP's 'Metroman' E Sreedharan is leading by 7,000 votes after 10 rounds of counting.

K Surendran trailing in Manjeshwaram and Konni

BJP State president KSurendran who contested from Manjeshwaram and Konni,is trailing in both seats.

The saffron party hoped for positive results from Konni as it was majorly impacted by the Sabarimala protests in 2018. The BJP had alsomade significant gains from the seat in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Sabarimala was a focuspoint in campaigning in Kerala by all parties.

Know more about Konni constituency

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is leading on 56 seats, followed by Congress on 23 seats, EC trends show. The BJP is leading on three seats.

Key constituency: Aruvikkara

In a surprise and close battle,LDFcandidate G. Stephen is leading over sitting MLAK S Sabarinathan of 230 votes after two rounds of voting.

It has been a UDF stronghold since 1991when Congress's G Karthikeyan won the seat from LDF, who held the seat till 2015. As he died that year, his son Sabarinathan won the by-election. Experts believe he may comfortably keep the seat but early leads put the candidate in a difficult position.

Know more about the constituency here

Suresh Gopi, BJP candidate from Thrissur, is leading from the constituency. (ANI)

Kerala's Congress (M) recently left the UDF camp and joined hands with LDF. Party chief Jose K Mani is trailing by nearly 2,000 votes against current Pala MLA, Mani C Kappan.

Poonjar sitting MLA and Kerala Janapaksham Secular leader, PC George is behind by a huge 8,000 votes' margin, as per EC.

CM Vijayan leading in Dharmadam constituency

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy maintaintheir leads in Haripad and Puthupally respectively.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was leading by 3,351 votes in his home turf against his nearest rival C Raghunathan of the Congress, according to Election Commission figures.

Ruling LDF continues to maintain lead in Kerala

The ruling LDF maintained its lead in 88 of the 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala while the opposition Congress-headed UDF was ahead in 50 segments. (PTI)

Official EC trends for Kerala as of 11 AM

The ruling LDF in Kerala was leading in 75 of the total 140 seats while opposition UDF was ahead in 56 segments.

Initial trends in Kerala indicated that the BJP-led NDA is ahead in two seats — Palakkad, where 'Metroman' E Sreedharan is contesting and Nemom. (PTI)

CPI(M)'s M M Mani is leading in Udumbanchola, while LDF leader Jose K Mani trails in Pala by over 5,000 votes

JUST IN | LDF is leading in Thrissur by around 900 votes, with NDA trailing in the second position. The NDA is leading in Kasaragod, Nemom, Palakkad, News18 reports.

Official EC trends for Kerala as of 10.11 AM

Leads are in from 100 assembly constituencies. CPI(M) ahead in 38 seats, while BJP is ahead in 1.

Early leads showed that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Health Minister K K Shailaja, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala were leading in their respective constituencies, while BJP state chief K Surendran was trailing in both the seats Konni and Manjeswaramhe contested.

As per the Election Commission website, the ruling CPI(M) was leading in five, CPI in two and the opposition Congress in five.

In Kottakkal, UDF candidateAbid Hussain Thangal is leading by over 2,200votes.LDF is leadingin Trivandrum, an assembly seat in Travancore region and Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

Know more about Thiruvananthapuram

LDF is leading in 89 seats, way past the majority mark, while UDF leads in 48 and NDA is ahead in 3.

JUST IN | Fire reported at a counting centre in Guruvayoor, but the counting process remains unaffected.

Official EC trends for Kerala as of 9.29 AM

BJP's 'Metroman' E Sreedharan is leading in Palakkad by 1,425 votes, according to News18.

Know more about Palakkad constituency

Leads as of 9.05 AM

The outcome will decide the fate of 975 candidates, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition leader, Ramesh Chennithala, senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy, BJP's 'Metroman' E Sreedharan and former Union Minister K J Alphons.

The counting for the Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll is also being held.

Media reports suggest thatBJP'sKummanam Rajashekharan is leading in one seat,Nemom, the saffron party's lone seat in the state.

LDF maintains edge over UDF in close fight

Early leads as of 8.55 am:

LDF: 68

UDF: 48

NDA: 1

The counting process begins with postal ballots and the EVMs counting follows 30-45 minutes later. LDF is now leading in 53 seats, but this is only the postal ballots.

LDF ahead in early leads

Counting of the postal ballots places LDF ahead in 33, while UDF is ahead in 18.

Visuals from a counting centre in Idukki

Just in |Ruling LDF leads in 8 seats, UDF in 5 seats

Counting for Kerala Assembly elections has begun at all centres.

What's the verdict of exit polls?

The main fight will be between LDF and UDF, with exits predicting a clear victory and a second term for CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Exit polls foresee that LDF will bag at least 88 of the 140 seats.

What are the matters of concern for the state?

The Sabrimala women's entry issue is a main political point for the state, with the Congress and BJP promising to keep women out of the temple. The saffron party, in an attempt to make inroads in a state where it only has one sitting MLA, has said 'love jihad' is a major issue in the state.

About 2.74 crore voters had exercised their franchise on April 6 as Kerala went to polls. 69.95 per centturnout was recorded in the state.

Counting in the shadow of a raging pandemic

The votes will be counted in 633 counting halls across 114 centres. Apart from Covid protocol of social distancing, at least 15 rounds of sanitisation will be carried out in the counting halls, News18 has reported.

Visuals outside a counting centre in Kannur

Counting of ballots will begin at 8 am

Counting of votes is slated to begin at 8 am at polling centres.

Kerala voted in a single-phase election on April 6 to elect 140 MLAs to the state assembly.