Kerala’s political battleground is heating up as the state moves closer to the 2026 Assembly elections, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) locking horns over governance records, leadership strategies, and the impact of past crises. Both alliances are preparing their narratives carefully, trying to influence voters ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested election. While the two parties share space under the INDIA bloc nationally, in Kerala, their rivalry remains as sharp as ever, with Congress determined to wrest power from the Left, which has been in government for two consecutive terms.
At the India Today Conclave South 2025, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala underlined this dual identity of the parties, pointing out that while they unite at the Centre to resist the BJP’s political advances, in Kerala, the fight is squarely between the UDF and the LDF. According to him, this contradiction is natural, given the state’s unique political equations, where the BJP is still a marginal player but capable of influencing outcomes through vote division. Chennithala accused the BJP of actively working to weaken Congress’s base in Kerala, saying that in past elections, the party’s growth in vote share indirectly benefited the CPI(M).
Leadership remains another point of focus. Unlike the Left, which is led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Congress has deliberately chosen not to project a Chief Ministerial candidate before the elections. Chennithala made it clear that the party’s approach is to allow elected MLAs and the high command to take the final decision, stressing that the Congress has many capable leaders in Kerala. By not projecting a single face, the Congress hopes to highlight its collective strength and unity, while also leaving room for flexibility after the elections.
In defending the party’s performance in the last polls, Chennithala argued that the Covid-19 pandemic was a decisive factor. He maintained that Congress was unable to reach out to the electorate during the crisis, whereas the incumbent government benefited from the perception of providing relief. This, he said, unfairly tilted the results in the LDF’s favour. However, he also noted that anti-incumbency is now beginning to work against the Left, which has governed the state for ten years. With a new focus on development, job creation, and growth, he expressed confidence that Congress can turn the tide in its favour in 2026.
The CPI(M), represented by Local Self-Governments and Excise Minister MB Rajesh, strongly countered these claims. Rajesh argued that the LDF’s re-election in 2021 was not just about pandemic management but a recognition of the government’s effective handling of recurring floods, cyclones, and other natural calamities. He said that Kerala’s people rewarded the government for its governance and crisis management. Rajesh further defended the administration against corruption allegations, noting that all 24 cases filed in the High Court were dismissed, which he claimed was proof of the government’s integrity.
Rajesh also presented a picture of Kerala’s continuing progress, citing indicators such as low infant mortality rates, ongoing initiatives to eradicate extreme poverty by 2025, and significant improvements in ease of doing business. He highlighted how Kerala’s GDP had expanded from ₹4.7 lakh crore in 2016 to ₹11.5 lakh crore, a leap that he attributed to the state’s investment-friendly policies and infrastructure improvements. In his view, these achievements reflected a modernising Kerala that is ready to attract more industries and investments in the years to come.
Despite their sharp differences, both sides agreed on one crucial point—the state’s historic “Kerala model” of development, built on strong foundations in health, education, and social welfare. Chennithala acknowledged that this model was not the work of a single party but a cumulative achievement of all governments and political forces over decades. Rajesh, while echoing this sentiment, credited the current Left government with strengthening and modernising the model, especially by pushing Kerala into new phases of economic expansion and global competitiveness under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership.
The political discourse in Kerala ahead of 2026 thus revolves around competing narratives: the Congress emphasising anti-incumbency, lost opportunities due to Covid, and the need for fresh leadership, while the Left stresses continuity, governance credentials, and a vision of sustained development. As both parties sharpen their campaigns, one thing is clear—Kerala’s voters will once again decide between tradition, reform, and the promises of two long-standing rivals.
