Elections to the 140-member Kerala assembly will take place on April 6 with the Left Democratic Front looking to retain power and the United Democratic Front hoping to make a comeback. The BJP-led National Democratic Front has also launched a vigorous campaign, hoping to further improve their vote tally in the changed political scenario.
Elections will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will take place on May 6. The tenure of the 14th Legislative Assembly will end on June 1.
Important dates
Issue of Gazette Notification: March 12
Last date of nomination: March 19
Scrutiny of nomination: March 20
Last date for withdrawal of candidature: March 22
Date of polling: April 6
Counting of votes: May 2
Total number of voters: 2,67,31,509
Men: 1,37,79,263
Women: 1,29,52,025
Transgenders: 221
First time voters aged 18 and 19: 2,99,258
Total constituency: 140
Seats required for majority: 71
Major alliances
LDF: CPI(M), CPI, Kerala Congress (M), Janata Dal (Secular), NCP, Loktantrik Janata Dal, INL, Congress (S), Kerala Congress (B), JKC
UDF: INC, IUML, RSP, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (Jacob), CMP, RMP
NDA: BJP, BDJS, AIADMK, Kamaraj Congress, JRS, Social Justice Party
Current seat status
LDF 91
UDF 41
NDA 1
The LDF hopes that the welfare initiatives of the Pinarayi Vijayan government like service pension and free food kit, and the measures taken by it to effectively curb the COVID-19 pandemic would help them retain power. The opposition, on the other hand, has been raking up a plethora of issues including gold smuggling, deep sea fishing contracts, alleged backdoor appointments in govt jobs and Sabarimala women entry to corner the government.
The BJP, which has only one seat in the current house, hopes to make a major gain this election as the party has fielded an array of celebrity leaders including Metrman E. Sreedharan and former DGP Jacob Thomas.