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The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has stormed to power in Kerala winning nearly two thirds of the seats in the Kerala Assembly elections.

The LDF won 91 seats and the Congress-led United Democratic Front 47 seats in the 140-member Assembly.

The BJP opened account for the first time in the State with former Union Minister of State O. Rajagopal winning from Nemom constituency. The BJP-led National Democratic Front was runner up in seven other constituencies.

Former UDF Chief Whip P. C. George won from Poonjar fighting the three fronts as an independent. His margin is as high as 27821 where as his nearest opponent Georgekutty Augusty (UDF) could poll only 35800 votes. Of the four film actors who contested, Mukesh won in Kollam while Jagdeesh and Bhimen Ragu were defeated by K. B. Ganesh Kumar.  Television anchor Veena George won while M. V. Nikeshkumar lost. (updated story)

The voter turnout in Kerala has crossed 77 per cent as the polling came to a close on Monday.
According to final figures provided by the State Electoral Office, the overall polling percentage is 77.35 per cent. In 2011, the polling percentage released following the polling was 75.12

Brisk polling is taking place in the elections to the Kerala Assembly on Monday.

The polling began at 7 am and heavy polling was reported from Kannur and Kozhikode districts. The pace of polling was slow in Thiruvananthapuram and Idukki districts. The overall polling percentage crossed 25 per cent by 11 am.

Rape cases have more than doubled in Kerala over the last five years. The incidence of such cases in relation to population is higher than the national average and those in the neigbouring States.

The reported cases of rape in Kerala were 1263 in 2015 against 617 in 2010 according to data released by the State Crime Records Bureau. The highest number of cases was reported from Thiruvananthapuram Rural and Malappuram district.

Protests are taking place in different parts of the State, especially in Ernakulam district and State capital Thiruvananthapuram, over possible rape, and brutal murder of a dalit student at Perumbavoor in the district.

In Ernakulam district, students of Law College, Ernakulam, and University of Sanskrit, Kaladi, have staged demonstrations. There are also plans for a march to the Office of the Inspector General of Police, Kochi Range in the afternoon.