Kerala’s Left Bastion Falls: LDF Faces Historic Defeat

For almost 50 years, they had always been in power in least one state —Kerala, West Bengal, or Tripura. After being wiped out in West Bengal and Tripura earlier, they have now lost their final stronghold.

The Left parties, which came to power in Kerala in 1957 under E. M. S. Namboodiripad, played a key role in bringing major changes to the state’s social and political landscape. The land and education reforms launched by that government sparked the massive “Liberation Struggle” agitation, which ultimately led to the dismissal of the EMS government by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Later, Left leaders like E. K. Nayanar, V. S. Achuthanandan, and Pinarayi Vijayan carried forward the “Kerala Model” of governance, seen as an alternative to the Congress- and BJP-led governments at the Centre.

The Left faced a major setback in West Bengal in 2011, a state once ruled by communist stalwart Jyoti Basu as Chief Minister for 23 years. Later, Tripura, under the Manik Sarkar-led Left Front, also fell to the BJP.

This left Kerala as the last stronghold for the communists.

Only five years ago, under Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, the LDF had made history by returning to power in 2021 — a feat no government had achieved in Kerala since 1970 where the electorate chose the UDF or the LDF alternatively.

Back then, the mood was completely different. Vijayan’s government earned widespread praise for its response to the catastrophic 2018 floods, the worst Kerala had seen in a century. He became a saviour-like figure, ensuring safety and relief for the people.

When Covid-19 struck in 2020, his administration once again impressed by providing food, medicines, and ventilators, while Vijayan personally addressed the public every evening at 6 pm, reinforcing his image as a protective elder. This goodwill turned into a decisive victory in 2021, with the LDF winning 99 seats.

From 2021 to 2026, the Left saw a steady decline. Corruption scandals emerged, drawing even Vijayan and his family, while allegations of massive financial irregularities in cooperative banks further damaged the government’s reputation. The LDF lost successive byelections, secured just one of 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and suffered a heavy defeat in the 2025 local body elections — clear signs that the public wanted change.

Despite pouring crores into publicity drives, the government couldn’t win back trust. Vijayan’s alleged authoritarian approach and quick temper alienated many. Observers noted that since becoming Chief Minister, he had centralised power, weakening the party’s internal democracy.

His 2016 Cabinet had included senior leaders like Thomas Isaac and K.K. Shailaja, but in 2021 he replaced them with younger, less experienced ministers whose voices were mostly muted. Decision-making shifted away from the once-powerful LDF state committee, which met only rarely during this time.

Opposition leaders claimed that central agencies held back action on the corruption allegations due to an unspoken deal between the CPM and BJP. Rahul Gandhi brought up these charges repeatedly during his campaign.

Scandals involving party leaders in cooperative sector and the arrest of CPM leaders in the Sabarimala gold theft case further dented the Left’s image. The government’s flip-flop on women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple—first in favour, then against—only deepened perceptions of inconsistency.

At the same time, the BJP grew even in former Left bastions. The April 9 elections has made that expansion clear.

CPM general secretary M.A. Baby said the party would examine the verdict. “We will analyse the reasons behind the defeat and come out with plan to revive the party,” he said.

Congress veteran leader A.K. Antony said the verdict also indicated that a sizable section of voters in Kerala did not want the Left to get completely decimated. Had they been voted to power for the third time, they would have faced the fate of West Bengal.

“More than a vote in favour of UDF, it is a mandate against the LDF, particularly CPM,” he said.