As the Kerala Assembly elections drew to a close on April 9, vote counting revealed a significant shift in voter sentiment. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed optimism about the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), anticipating a decisive victory and a comfortable majority in the state assembly.
Tharoor’s Insight on Voter Sentiment
In an interview with NDTV, Tharoor highlighted that the electorate had shown a clear preference for change. He pointed out that voters were moving away from individual ministers and legislators of the ruling party, rejecting them due to a collective sense of misgovernance. This, he noted, demonstrated a mature political awareness among the electorate.
Initial Trends of the Election Results
The early counting indicated that the UDF was leading in over 90 seats, significantly ahead of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) which was holding around 50 seats. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, was trailing with approximately five seats.
- UDF: Over 90 seats
- LDF: Under 50 seats
- NDA: Around 5 seats
Prospective Chief Minister Candidates
When asked about potential candidates for the next Chief Minister of Kerala, Tharoor mentioned that the UDF would consult among winning MLAs to decide on leadership. While he acknowledged the pool of talent within the party, he emphasized that the final decision rests with the Congress high command.
Tharoor remarked that the situation was not just about forming a government but achieving what he termed a historic majority. The UDF was reportedly leading in 99 seats, marking a performance not seen in years. He expressed anticipation about the confirmed results, noting that while the counting was still ongoing, the trends already suggested a strong lead.
Election Commission Data
According to figures from the Election Commission, the seat counts were as follows:
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Congress (UDF) | 50 |
| CPI(M) | 31 |
| IUML | 17 |
| CPI | 13 |
| Kerala Congress (M) | 4 |
| BJP | 3 |
| Kerala Congress (KEC) | 3 |
| Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) | 3 |
Conclusion
Veteran Congress leader PJ Kurien noted that several candidates were viable for the role of Chief Minister, though he did not disclose names. He asserted that the final decision would be embraced by all party members, reflecting a communal spirit within the UDF.
