The Congress-led UDF is all set for a massive victory in the high-profile three-way contest in Kerala, where the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF faced off against the UDF led by Congress, and the NDA. The state, which has been a traditional Left bastion, is witnessing a tectonic shift, and could end up being a national embarrassment for the battered Left Democratic Front (LDF).
At the time of publishing, the UDF was leading in 19 out of 20 seats.
Kerala witnessed a high-decibel Lok Sabha campaign in the immediate aftermath of the Sabarimala issue, after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of women’s entry into the hill shrine. Meanwhile, the BJP seems to have failed to capitalise enough on the issue to win a seat. The extent of the impact of Sabarimala issue on the BJP’s performance, however, will reflect in their vote share.