2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections were conducted in Kerala on 9 April 2026 to elect 140 members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared on 4 May 2026, leading to Satheesan ministry.
Background
The tenure of Kerala Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 23 May 2026. The previous assembly elections were held in April 2021. After the election, the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front formed the state government again after winning 99 out of 140 seats in the assembly, with Pinarayi Vijayan sworn in as the Chief Minister.
Schedule The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Kerala Legislative Assembly election on 15 March 2026.
Event Date Date of notification 16 March 2026 Last date for filing nominations 23 March 2026 Scrutiny of nominations 24 March 2026 Last date for withdrawal of nomination 26 March 2026 Date of polling 9 April 2026 Date of counting of votes 4 May 2026 Deadline for completion of the election process 6 May 2026
Voter statistics This is the first election held after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll. The total number of voters in the state is 27,142,952, comprising 13,220,811 male, 13,921,868 female, and 273 transgender voters.
Electoral history There are 140 constituencies in Kerala, spread across 14 districts, based on the Delimitation Commission of 2002. These 140 constituencies had a major demarcation with many present in the 2006 elections becoming non-existent and newer ones coming into existence.
Assembly election result by alliance Election Seats won Ruling coalition Majority LDF UDF NDA Others 2011 68 72 0 0 UDF 4 2016 91 47 1 1 LDF 44 2021 99 41 0 0 LDF 58 2026 35 102 3 0 UDF 67
Parties and alliances
United Democratic Front
The United Democratic Front (UDF) is the Indian National Congress-led alliance of political parties in the Indian state of Kerala.
colspan="8" United Democratic Front Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats Sunny Joseph 92 Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal 26 P. J. Joseph 8 Shibu Baby John 4 Anoop Jacob 1 N. Venu 1 C. P. John 1 7 Total 140
Left Democratic Front
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties led by Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Indian state of Kerala.
colspan="8" Left Democratic Front Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats M. V. Govindan 77 Binoy Viswam 24 Jose K. Mani 12 Thomas K. Thomas 3 M. V. Shreyams Kumar 3 Mathew T. Thomas 4 K. B. Ganesh Kumar 1 Ahamed Devarkovil 1 Kadannappalli Ramachandran 1 Kovoor Kunjumon 1 13 Total 140
National Democratic Alliance
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is an Indian multi-party political alliance, led by the country's biggest political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party.
colspan="8" National Democratic Alliance Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats Rajeev Chandrasekhar 98 Thushar Vellapally 22 Sabu M. Jacob 19 1 Total 140
Others
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats J Sudhakaran IAS (Retd) 55 Vinod Mathew Wilson 53 CPA Latheef 34 30 9 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 258
Campaign
Left Democratic Front In February 2026, the Left Democratic Front organized "Vikasana Munnetta Jadha" ("Development Advancement March"), a political march aimed at highlighting the developmental achievements of the incumbent government. On 10 March, the LDF released its campaign slogan for the assembly election, "Mattarund LDF Allathe?" (Who else but LDF?). On 17 March, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan kick-started his election campaign from his home constituency, Dharmadam. On 2 April, the LDF released its election manifesto.
Key Promises A 60-point programme containing 950 proposals to create a "Nava Kerala" ("New Kerala"). Eradicating absolute poverty by uplifting 5 lakh families. Increase in social welfare pension from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000. Assured job opportunities for youth educated in Kerala through campus placements. "Back to Campus" scheme for skill enhancement. Ensuring 50% women's work force participation. Rapid transit systems in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Timely completion of the Sabarimala Railway.
United Democratic Front On 6 February, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan launched the ''Puthuyuga Yathra", (March into a New Era), marking the beginning of the United Democratic Front election campaign. The march began at Kumbla in Kasaragod and concluded at Thiruvananthapuram on 7 March. The closing event was inaugurated by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who announced five poll-promises. On 15 March, the UDF released its campaign slogan "Keralam Jayikkum, UDF Nayikkum" ("Kerala will win, and UDF will lead"). On 2 April, Chief Minister of Telangana Revanth Reddy released the UDF election manifesto, focusing on "Indira guarantees", named after Indira Gandhi.
Key Promises Monthly allowance of ₹1,000 for college-going girls Increase in social welfare pension from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 Interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh for young entrepreneurs Dedicated department for senior citizens' welfare and protection. Free bus travel for women in KSRTC buses. "Oommen Chandy Health Insurance" scheme providing ₹25 lakh coverage per household.
National Democratic Alliance The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance released their campaign slogan "Marathathu Ini Marum", ("What never changed will change now"). On 6 March 2026, the Kerala BJP, led by its state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, organized a public interaction and mega adalat in Dharmadam constituency, represented by Pinarayi Vijayan. On 11 March 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the BJP's official campaign for the Kerala Assembly elections from Kochi. On 31 March, BJP national president Nitin Nabin released the NDA manifesto .
Key Promises "Bhakshya-Arogya Suraksha Card" providing monthly ₹2,500 support to women from poor and Below Poverty Line households. ₹3,000 monthly social welfare pension for women heads of poor households, widows, and senior citizens 20,000 liters of free water supply per household per month Two free LPG cylinders annually for poor households during Onam and Christmas Establishment of an AIIMS. High-speed railway network connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur districts.
Candidates
CPI(M) released the first list of 81 candidates on 15 March 2026. CPI released the first list of 25 candidates on 15 March 2026. ISJD released the first list of 3 candidates on 16 March 2026. KC(M) released the first list of 12 candidates on 16 March 2026. NCP(SP) released the first list of 3 candidates on 16 March 2026. RJD released the first list of 3 candidates on 18 March 2026.
RSP released the first list of 4 candidates on 16 March 2026. INC released the first list of 55 candidates on 17 March 2026; the second list of 37 candidates on 19 March 2026. IUML released the first list of 25 candidates on 17 March 2026. KEC released the first list of 8 candidates on 17 March 2026.
BJP released the first list of 47 candidates on 16 March 2026; the second list of 39 candidates on 19 March 2026. Twenty20 Party released the first list of 4 candidates on 16 March 2026; second and third list of total 8 candidates on 17 March 2026. BDJS released the first list of 12 candidates on 16 March 2026; the second list of 11 candidates on 19 March 2026.