UDF leads Kerala Assembly polls: Congress hails 'landslide', BJP loses South India relevance
Synopsis
The UDF's commanding lead in Kerala Assembly polls has Congress leaders celebrating what they call a historic landslide — crediting Rahul Gandhi's strategy, Mallikarjun Kharge's leadership, and KC Venugopal's ground game. The result also reignites the debate over BJP's inability to break into South India's electoral map.
Key Takeaways
The UDF , led by Congress , secured a clear lead in the Kerala Assembly election results on Monday, 4 May .
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said the UDF is set to "hit century" in Kerala, calling it a landslide margin.
The victory was credited to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge , Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi 's strategy, and Congress MP KC Venugopal 's ground mobilisation.
Congress leader Mettu Sai Kumar alleged the BJP misused constitutional establishments and claimed the party has lost relevance in South Indian states .
Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph described the mandate as a "thumping victory", comparable to the UDF's strong showing in the December local body polls .
Congress leaders on Monday welcomed the party-led United Democratic Front (UDF)'s commanding lead in the Kerala Assembly election results, calling it a victory of alliance unity and crediting the result to the organisational strategy of top party leadership. Senior leaders also asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost its political relevance across South India.
Congress Leaders Hail the Mandate
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, speaking to IANS, described the UDF's performance as historic.
Point of View
The BJP remains electorally marginal in the region — a structural problem that no single campaign cycle has resolved. Congress, meanwhile, is using Kerala to project a national counter-narrative ahead of future electoral cycles, with Rahul Gandhi's strategy and Kharge's leadership being front-and-centre in victory statements. Whether this translates into momentum elsewhere, or remains a regional stronghold story, will define the party's 2026 and 2029 calculus.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Kerala Assembly election results?
The UDF, led by Congress, secured a clear lead in the Kerala Assembly election results declared on Monday, 4 May. Congress leaders described the margin as a landslide, with the alliance projected to cross a century of seats.
Who did Congress credit for the UDF's Kerala victory?
Congress leaders credited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's leadership, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's electoral strategy, and Congress MP KC Venugopal's ground-level mobilisation for the UDF's strong performance in Kerala.
What did Congress say about BJP's performance in South India?
Congress leader Mettu Sai Kumar claimed that the BJP has lost its relevance in South Indian states, also alleging that the party misused constitutional establishments during the election process.
Who is Kerala Congress President and what did he say?
Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph thanked voters and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership, describing the result as a thumping victory comparable to the UDF's strong showing in the December local body polls.
What is the UDF in Kerala politics?
The United Democratic Front (UDF) is a political alliance in Kerala led by the Indian National Congress (INC). It is one of the two dominant fronts in the state, competing against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
