Early exit poll projections for the Kerala Assembly elections suggest a closely fought contest, with some pollsters indicating an edge for the Congress-led UDF.
As exit poll predictions for the Kerala Assembly elections 2026 begin to emerge, pollsters have indicated a tight race between the major political fronts, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) currently appearing to have a slight advantage in some projections.
Kerala went to the polls in a single phase on April 9 for its 140-seat Assembly, with counting scheduled for May 4. The election features a direct contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the CPI(M), and the opposition UDF, along with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
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According to early projections, People’s Pulse has forecast 75–85 seats for the UDF, 55–65 seats for the LDF, and 0–3 seats for the NDA, suggesting a closely contested mandate.
The LDF, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been in power since 2016 and had previously broken Kerala’s long-standing pattern of alternating governments by securing a second consecutive term in 2021. The Congress-led UDF remains its primary challenger in the state.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the LDF achieved a historic win with 99 seats, while the UDF secured 41 seats and the NDA failed to win any constituencies. The result marked the first consecutive victory for a ruling alliance in Kerala in decades.
With Vijayan contesting from Dharmadam once again, the 2026 election is being closely watched as a potential test of whether the LDF can secure a rare third consecutive term in the state.
Published: 29 Apr 2026, 07:21 pm IST
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