Thiruvananthapuram, May 4: For the first time, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is trailing in the election results, along with several of his cabinet colleagues. State Congress President Suni Joseph, who is contesting in his home constituency, stated that this is a clear trend and nothing can stop them from returning to power.
As the counting progresses, it signals a challenging day for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Current trends indicate that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and 14 ministers are lagging in their respective constituencies. In 2021, Vijayan won the Dharmadam seat by a margin of 50,000 votes.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is leading in 93 seats, while the Left Front is ahead in 42 and the BJP in five.
However, the broader picture points to a strong resurgence of the UDF, which has established a clear lead following the initial counting of EVMs.
The coalition is ahead in several seats, suggesting that its campaign—focused on issues like anti-incumbency, rising inflation, corruption allegations, and unemployment—is resonating with voters.
The LDF, aiming for a historic third consecutive win, is facing significant opposition in many existing seats.
The ministers’ poor performance highlights the severity of this challenge and raises questions about whether their voter base has diminished and if the limitations of their development and welfare narrative are becoming apparent.
Party leaders, including State Secretary M.V. Govindan, had expressed confidence before the counting began, but the emerging trends indicate a tougher contest than expected.
In contrast, enthusiasm is palpable within the UDF camp, where the early lead is bolstering hopes for a potential return to power.
Celebrations that began in party offices early in the morning now seem less premature as the numbers become clearer.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently has limited leads in terms of seats but is gradually working to strengthen its position and increase its vote share.
Counting is ongoing across all 140 constituencies under tight security. The focus now shifts to whether the UDF can convert its early lead into a decisive mandate, and whether Vijayan’s personal seat can provide any consolation for the left parties in this challenging electoral landscape.
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