The 2026 Kerala Assembly elections marked the return of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power after a decade, ending the Left Democratic Front’s two consecutive terms.The UDF won 102 of the 140 assembly seats in the state, giving a decisive mandate that exceeded most pre-poll projections. The Congress emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 63 seats, while the CPI(M)-led LDF saw a sharp decline in its numbers, with the Marxist party itself reduced to 26 seats.Following the decision, senior Congress leader VD Satheesan took oath as the chief minister, leading the 20-member cabinet at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The new Council of Ministers includes 14 first-time ministers, two women and two representatives from the Scheduled Caste community.The election also saw several high-profile defeats of the outgoing government. Thirteen LDF cabinet ministers lost their seats, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who resigned after the results were declared on 4 May.Voting for the assembly elections took place on April 9, with a voter turnout of 78.27% among over 2.7 crore voters.The UDF campaign focused on issues including unemployment, inflation and governance, while the LDF sought re-election on its record in welfare delivery, health care and education.This result also has broader political significance. Kerala remained the only state ruled by a Communist-led government after the Left lost power in West Bengal in 2011 and Tripura in 2018. With the defeat of the LDF, India no longer has a communist-led state government.CPI(M) admitted the setback after the results, saying the party would review the decision and assess the reasons for the defeat.Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition were present in the swearing-in ceremony. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and chief ministers of Congress-ruled states underlined the party’s attempt to project the Kerala victory as a significant political gain.