As counting continues for the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed strong confidence that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is headed for a decisive victory, potentially with a historic mandate.
‘Vote for Change Is Clear’
Speaking during the early stages of counting, Tharoor said the electorate had delivered a clear verdict against the incumbent government, despite the individual popularity of some leaders.
“They have voted decisively for change,” he said, adding that voters recognised that supporting the ruling alliance would mean “a continuation of misgovernance.” He described the outcome as a reflection of the maturity of voters in Kerala.
UDF Takes Early Lead
Initial trends showed the UDF racing ahead, leading in over 90 seats in the 140-member assembly. In contrast, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) was trailing with under 50 seats, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead in only a handful of constituencies.
According to Election Commission data at the time:
- Congress was leading in around 50 seats
- CPI(M) in 31 seats
- IUML in 17 seats
- CPI in 13 seats
- Kerala Congress (M) in 4 seats
- BJP and allies in about 3 seats each
These numbers reinforced the UDF’s claim of a comfortable majority.
‘Not Just Government, But Historic Mandate’
Tharoor emphasised that the result could go beyond a simple victory, hinting at a rare and significant mandate for the alliance.
“It is not just about forming the government, which we were expecting anyway, but a historic majority,” he said, noting that the UDF was leading in close to 99 seats—an outcome not seen in a long time.
He cautioned, however, that counting was still underway and final results would take time to be confirmed.
Who Will Be Chief Minister?
When asked about the next Chief Minister of Kerala, Tharoor declined to speculate, explaining the Congress party’s internal process.
“The honest answer is that I have no clue,” he said. “There will be consultations among the elected MLAs, followed by a decision from the party leadership.”
He added that the presence of multiple capable leaders within the party was a positive sign.
What Lies Ahead
With counting still in progress, the final picture will become clearer later in the day. However, early trends strongly suggest a significant shift in the political landscape of the state, with the UDF poised to return to power after a decisive electoral performance.