As the counting of votes for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections unfolds, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is making significant strides in the Dharmadam constituency. By the close of eight rounds of counting, Vijayan had established a lead of 3,559 votes over his Congress rival, VP Abdul Rasheed. This comes as a surprising turnaround, as earlier reports indicated that Vijayan was trailing behind the Congress candidate.

The counting process commenced at 8 AM, with a total of 15 rounds planned for the day. Reflecting on his previous victory in 2021, where he secured the seat with a commanding margin of over 50,000 votes, Vijayan is eager to claim his third consecutive term in office. With the stakes high, the political landscape is both tense and dynamic.

At the broader state level, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is currently leading in 92 constituencies, while the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is holding its ground in 40. The Election Commission’s updates at 12:25 PM indicate that the competition is fierce, with a total of 140 seats in the Assembly up for grabs. To form a government, a party or coalition must secure at least 71 seats.

However, the election is not without its surprises; at the same time, several ministers from the ruling LDF are finding themselves on the back foot. Key figures like Veena George from Aranmula and MB Rajesh from Thrithala are trailing in their respective constituencies, raising questions about the LDF’s overall performance this election cycle.

The elections took place on April 9, witnessing a remarkable voter turnout of 79.6% among more than 880 candidates. Many exit polls had projected a victory for the Congress-led alliance, heightening the anticipation and speculation surrounding the results. As the counting progresses, all eyes remain on the vote tallies, with both major political factions hoping to secure a decisive mandate from the people of Kerala.