LIVE: Kerala, Assam, Puducherry to vote on April 9; TN on April 23; Bengal on April 23 and 29

CPI announces candidates in 25 seats for Kerala Assembly polls

Can BJP breach Kerala's bipolar politics?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never been a major force in Kerala politics, but in every election, the party and its supporters remain optimistic that the lotus will finally bloom in the southern state. 

Here we take a look at the SWOT analysis of the saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance in the state, which goes to polls on April 9. 

Strengths:

1. Good show in recent civic polls: The party's historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation in the recent civic polls has infused its cadre with fresh energy.

2. Image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the broad acceptance he enjoys among various sections of people.

3. The party has taken an early lead with its poll campaign.

Weaknesses:

1. A long history of electoral setbacks and the difficulty of breaking the traditional bipolar polity in the state, which is dominated by the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress.

2. The party will have to find ways to counter the widespread campaign by the CPI(M)-led ruling front against the Centre for not announcing a financial package for the 2024 Wayanad landslide survivors.

3. Criticism over the BJP-led Union government allegedly cutting allocations to the state and for not granting any major projects to Kerala in recent Union budgets.

Opportunities:

1. A gradual consolidation of support, especially among urban voters, sections of the youth, and certain community groups, could improve the party's prospects.

2. The recent expansion of the NDA, with the entry of influential parties such as Twenty20, will help achieve this target.

3. Party leaders believe that governance and infrastructure development under the Modi government, along with the Centre's welfare schemes, could resonate with voters if correctly communicated.

Threats/Challenges:

1. Building a broader social coalition in a state with complex community dynamics and a politically aware electorate.

2. While the saffron party has made inroads into certain segments, it still struggles to expand its influence among diverse groups that traditionally support the LDF and the UDF.

3. The reported distancing of minority groups, especially sections of the Christian community, following alleged attacks on nuns and priests in BJP-ruled states in north India, is also seen as a challenge for the party.

Also read: Kerala elections 2026: 10 issues that can determine results

Kerala: Can UDF prevent a LDF hattrick? A SWOT analysis

Sitting in the opposition for the past 10 years in Kerala, it is a do-or-die battle for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to wrest power from the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Here is a SWOT analysis:

Strengths

1. A decade-old anti-incumbency against the LDF government would be the biggest advantage for the UDF, which was reflected in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the civic elections last year.

2Bypoll performance: The UDF secured victories in four out of five Assembly by-elections since 2021. It tasted defeat only at Chelakkara in 2024, a Left bastion.

3. Runaway victory in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, winning 18 of the 20 seats in Kerala.

4. Consensus among allies, with no major controversies over seat-sharing, a recurring issue in previous Assembly elections.

5. More leaders and parties from rival fronts have joined UDF in recent years.

Weaknesses

1. Internal factionalism: Although the Congress (A) faction, earlier led by A K Antony and later Oommen Chandy, has lost much of its strength within the party, political observers say there is still internal bickering within the Congress (I) group.

2. Lack of a chief ministerial candidate, unlike the LDF, which is projecting Pinarayi Vijayan.

Opportunities

1. Strong minority consolidation, with Muslim and Christian votes likely to move towards the front in the upcoming elections.

2. With the BJP gaining strength in the state, the UDF will also hope that the NDA will divide Hindu votes, which could affect the LDF's prospects and indirectly benefit the Congress-led front.

3. The UDF is also optimistic as the BJP's attempts to woo Christian voters did not yield significant results in the recent local body elections.

4. Apart from this, the UDF will also try to capitalise on the Sabarimala gold loss incident, which has put the LDF government in a difficult position.

Threats/Challenges:

1. An intensive campaign by the LDF government highlighting development works and comparing them with the situation during the 2011-2016 UDF regime: This may attract some voters, even though such efforts did not yield the desired results in the civic body polls.

2. UDF leaders openly acknowledging that they have received support from Jamaat-e-Islami and the Welfare Party could alienate some Hindu and Christian voters.

3. Yet to gain the confidence of backward Hindu communities, particularly the Ezhava, which holds a significant share of votes in the state.

4. SNDP leader Vellapally Natesan has often been critical of the UDF and has shown a tilt towards the LDF, while the BDJS led by his son Thushar Vellapally remains an ally of the NDA.

5. Diminishing presence in Thiruvananthapuram is another concern for the front.

6. BJP's growing presence in central Kerala districts such as Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha has become another challenge for the UDF.

7. Sexual assault allegations against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil.

D Raja of CPI confident of Left revival in Bengal

D Raja, national general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), has asserted that the Left is confident of a revival in West Bengal in the upcoming Assembly elections, and that it would emerge as a force to be reckoned with that would shape the political discourse of the state.

The veteran leader's statement came hours before the announcement of poll dates for four states and one Union territory by the Election Commission.

"Everyone knows that West Bengal will be a very tough fight. But the Left is very confident. The Left will see a revival and will emerge as a force to be reckoned with that would shape the political discourse of the state," Raja told reporters at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The Left, which ruled Bengal for 34 years between 1977 and 2011, has been turned into a fringe power and failed to get a single seat in the 2021 Assembly elections. 

The Left leader arrived in the state to participate in the party's centenary celebrations. He said situations are varied in the states going to the polls.

"In Kerala, we are part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). There are no issues on that front. The LDF stands a good chance of returning to power for a third term. In Tamil Nadu, discussions are currently underway with the DMK coalition regarding seat-sharing arrangements. Everything will be clear in a day or two," Raja added.

DMK, AIADMK welcome announcement of poll dates

Kerala parties upbeat as EC unveils poll schedule; LDF, UDF express confidence

Political parties in Kerala have expressed confidence about the outcome of the Assembly's electoral battle going in their favour soon after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule.

The election for 140 seats in the state will be held on April 9. The results will be declared on May 4. 

Both the CPI(M) and the CPI of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) were the first to announce their candidates, and many of them kicked off their election campaigns soon after the announcements.

LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said seat sharing in the ruling coalition has almost been completed on time, and clarity is required for only a few seats.

Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, said the United Democratic Front (UDF) will contest the elections as a united team.

"It is the team UDF that is facing the election. We will return to power with over 100 seats," he said.

Satheesan said the confidence of winning over 100 seats stems from the UDF’s victories in recent bypolls and local body elections.

He said the Congress is also ready to announce its candidates.

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said only 25 days remain to bring about a change of government.

"It is not a time for rest. Everyone should move forward with vigour. For the UDF, it is the final phase after victories in the bypolls and local body elections," he said.

The BJP is also expected to announce its candidates in the coming days.

Also read: Kerala polls 2026: Left faces wave of defections as familiar faces cross over

AAP releases 14-candidate list for Assam elections; state deputy in fray

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday released its first list of 14 candidates for the April 9 Assembly elections in Assam. The list includes its state vice-president, Anurupa Dekaraja.

All the constituencies included on the party's list are located in the Brahmaputra valley.Dekaraja will contest from the new seat of Guwahati Central while Renuka Timungpi from Bokajan.

Among other candidates named on the list, issued by AAP state 'prabhari' Rajesh Sarma, are Achyut Das (Naoboicha), Tapan Gogoi (Sivasagar), Zahidul Islam Khan (Chenga), Ranjeet Boro (Nadua), Pallav Saikia (Titabor) and Jinna Amir Hussain (East Goalpara).

The AAP, which is yet to open its account in the Assam assembly, will be contesting the polls here without an alliance with any other opposition party.

Results of the Assam elections will be announced on May 4. 

Also read: Dissent brews in Congress over Assam seat-sharing even as party releases 2nd poll list

Puducherry: Ruling bloc banks on Rangasamy, Congress eyes comeback

Top parties hail 2-phase election in Bengal

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have hailed the Election Commission’s decision to hold a two-phase poll in the state in this year's elections, unlike in the past when they went to even seven or eight.

Responding to the poll schedule's announcement, TMC leader and former MP Kunal Ghosh said the people of the state are firmly behind the ruling party.

"People of Bengal are with TMC. This was again shown in the massive turnout of youth in Yuva Sathi camps held by the Mamata Banerjee government," he added.

The state BJP, on the other hand, said people will vote decisively to end the "maha jungle raj" under the ruling TMC. The ruling party said the outcome would favour it once again.

Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya also welcomed the EC's decision to hold a two-phase election, but expressed concern over whether voters would be able to exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation.

The former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief also said he had raised the issue of voter intimidation during his interaction with the full bench of the Election Commission (EC) during its recent visit to the state.

"I welcome the Election Commission's move to hold the polls in West Bengal in two phases. But my only concern is that the electors can cast their votes freely and without any fear," Bhattacharya told PTI.

The elections in Bengal will take place on April 23 and 29 with the results coming out on May 4. 

Also read: SIR, infiltration, women’s safety: 10 key issues that are set to dominate Bengal polls

Mamata's TMC has brute majority in Bengal Assembly while BJP's numbers slumped

Of the 294-member Bengal Assembly, the Trinamool Congress in 2021 won 215 seats, up four seats from its tally of the 2016 edition of state polls, as against 77 seats won by the BJP, which improved its numbers by 74 seats.

Currently, following multiple defections, resignations and bypolls, the strength of the TMC in the Assembly stands at 223 with the support of one more MLA from the Darjeeling-based Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha. Suspended TMC leader Partha Chatterjee continues to remain an Independent MLA in the House.

The BJP’s numbers in the Assembly have currently reduced to 64, mostly on account of defections to the TMC. The Indian Secular Front and the newly formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party occupy one seat each. Three seats in the house remain vacant on account of the deaths of sitting MLAs.

Also read: Hours before MCC sets in, Mamata gives hike to priests and clerics, clears DA arrears