UDF's Promising Surge in Kerala: A Shift Towards New Politics

As early election results in Kerala signal a strong lead for the Congress-led UDF, Shashi Tharoor hails it as a demand for change following a decade of flawed governance. With several key LDF figures trailing, Congress adopts a cautious approach to leadership decisions, promising a fresh political direction.

As early voting trends signaled a promising lead for the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor embraced the shift as evidence of voter demand for political change after a decade. Tharoor emphasized that the party embodies a new political direction, underlining the necessity for innovative governance.

Regarding leadership, Tharoor stressed the party's cautious approach, indicating that any decision would follow internal consultations. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is set to appoint a representative to engage with newly elected MLAs, with the party's high command ultimately deciding leadership, in alignment with traditional party processes.

Tharoor noted favorable trends for the UDF, remarking on the potential defeats of prominent Left Democratic Front (LDF) figures. However, he cautioned that the situation could still change, highlighting that only a few counting rounds had been completed. The UDF had gained a significant lead, as per official Election Commission figures.

Amid UDF's lead with 82 seats and Congress's 50-seat advantage, the Muslim League was ahead in 17, contrasting with LDF's lead in 51 seats. State Congress President Sunny Joseph attributed LDF's struggles to unpopular policies. Congress MP Jebi Mather expressed gratitude for surpassing exit poll projections, calling it a decisive victory.

As counting continued in 823 constituencies across key regions, including Keralam and West Bengal, the process involved postal ballots and the real-time update of results on official platforms. Heightened security accompanied the operation, with projections indicating a competitive race in West Bengal between BJP and TMC.

West Bengal marked historical voter engagement with an unprecedented 91.66% turnout in Phase-II of elections.