India has, for the first time since 1977, reached a point where no state is governed by a Communist-led administration, following the Kerala Assembly election outcome.
In Kerala’s 140-seat contest, a three-cornered fight played out between the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP. The results delivered a major setback to the incumbent LDF.
The Congress-led UDF secured a decisive mandate, winning 98 seats and ending a decade of LDF rule in the state. The report notes that the verdict came amid anti-incumbency against the Vijayan government.
Despite the alliance’s defeat, Pinarayi Vijayan retained his own constituency, Dharmadam. The development is also seen as likely to reduce the influence of Left parties within the INDIA alliance, with the report adding that two other alliance parties—Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the DMK in Tamil Nadu—also suffered major losses in their respective elections.
