LDF storms to power in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI (M)-led 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.

Congress received the biggest snub from the electors. Their strength in the Assembly was nearly halved. Its allies Muslim League escaped with minor damage while Kerala Congress (Mani) could only win six seats.  However, smaller allies Revolutionary Socialist Party and Janata Dal (United) and Communist Marxist Party were decimated. They failed to get a single seat.

Kerala Congress dissidents who defected to the LDF and formed the Kerala Congress (Democratic) also failed to win a single seat despite the swing in favour of LDF. Minor constituents of LDF, Indian National League and Kerala Congress (Scaria Thomas) also did not win any seat.

Four ministers of the outgoing government—Excise Minister K. Babu, Agriculture Minister K. P. Mohan, Labour Minister Shibhu Baby John and Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare P. K. Jayalekshmi, were defeated. Speaker N. Sakthan and Deputy Speaker also lost. Minister Aryadan Mohammed’s son Aryadan Shoukath lost in Nilambur by a margin of 11500 votes. This was a seat held for a long time by Aryadan Mohammed.

The winning margin of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy won with a margin of about 27000 votes. However, the margin was lower than in 2011 by about 6000 votes. Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan also won with a margin of about 27000 votes which is higher by about 3700 votes over 2001. CPI (M) leader Pinarai Vijayan won with a margin of nearly 37000 votes. In Manjeswaram, the BJP candidate K. Surendran lost by just 89 votes.  

Performance of political parties-- a comparison with 2011 elections