As Kerala prepares for the 2026 Assembly elections, the Sabarimala controversy continues to haunt the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). According to the comprehensive Mathrubhumi-CORE 'Mood of the State' survey, past religious and administrative controversies remain a significant psychological hurdle for Pinarayi Vijayan government.

A persistent negative for LDF

The survey, which gathered responses from 28,432 voters, indicates a stark perception regarding the impact of the Sabarimala and gold smuggling controversies. A majority of 52.09% of respondents believe these issues will negatively affect the LDF alliance. In contrast, only 11.33% believe the United Democratic Front (UDF) will be impacted, while a negligible 1.31% think it will harm the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Meanwhile, 16.03% believe it will affect both LDF and UDF. Interestingly, 19.24% believe it will have no effect in elections.

Controversy: the final verdict

This suggests that while the issue colours the overall perception of the government's character, the LDF's challenge as the election approaches will be to neutralise this "controversy factor", while the UDF and NDA will likely keep these issues alive to chip away at the ruling front's majority.