Elections in Kerala are regularly held to appoint government officials at various levels, both within the state of Kerala and in India as a whole. These elections encompass national elections as well as regional elections for local bodies and panchayat.

Kerala

The Kerala Assembly has the authority to enact laws concerning the conduct of local body elections independently. However, any modifications made by the state legislature to the procedures of state-level elections require approval from the Parliament of India. In addition, the state legislature may be dismissed by the Parliament according to Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and President's rule may be imposed.

State Election Commission prepares the electoral rolls of Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporation and conduct their elections. The State Election Commissioner is also the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission.[1]

Types of elections edit

Elections in Kerala include elections for:

Loksabha elections edit

 
Lok Sabha (Lower House)

Members of parliament in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) from Kerala are directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of Kerala can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the Lok Sabha elections are called "Members of Parliament" and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the president of India on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chamber of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place once every five years to elect 20 members from Kerala.[2] The leader of the majority party or alliance in the country takes oath as prime minister of India. Indian General Elections in Kerala has been mainly contested between two political parties since the formation of the state. The Indian National Congress which currently leads United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) which currently leads Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance. The Indian National Congress has been in lead, 10 out of 16 election from 1957 in Kerala. |}

Legislative Assembly election results
 
15th Lok Sabha (2009)
 
16th Lok Sabha (2014)
 
17th Lok Sabha (2019)

Party Wise Results edit

Lok Sabha Election Year 1st Party 2nd Party 3rd Party 4th Party Others Total Seats
2nd Lok Sabha 1957 CPI 9 INC 6 PSP 1 Ind 2 18
3rd Lok Sabha 1962 CPI 6 INC 5 IUML 2 RSP 1 Ind 3 17
4th Lok Sabha 1967 CPI(M) 9 CPI 3 SSP 3 IUML 2 INC 1, Ind 1 19
5th Lok Sabha 1971 INC(R) 6 CPI 3 KC 3 CPI(M) 2 RSP 2, IUML 2, Ind 1 19
6th Lok Sabha 1977 INC 9 CPI 4 IUML 2 KC 2 IC (S) 1, RSP 1 19
7th Lok Sabha 1980 CPI(M) 6 INC (I) 4 INC (U) 3 CPI 2 IUML 2, KC 2, Ind 1 20
8th Lok Sabha 1984 INC 13 KC (J) 2 IUML 2 CPI(M) 1 IC (S) 1, JP 1, 20
9th Lok Sabha 1989 INC 14 CPI(M) 2 IUML 2 KC (M) 1 IC (S) 1 20
10th Lok Sabha 1991 INC 13 CPI(M) 3 IUML 2 KC (M) 1 IC (S) 1 20
11th Lok Sabha 1996 INC 7 CPI(M) 5 CPI 2 IUML 2 JD 1, KC (M) 1, RSP 1, Ind 1 20
12th Lok Sabha 1998 INC 8 CPI(M) 4 CPI 2 IUML 2 KC (M) 1, RSP 1, Ind 2 20
13th Lok Sabha 1999 INC 8 CPI(M) 4 IUML 2 KC(M) 1 KC 1 20
14th Lok Sabha 2004 CPI(M) 12 CPI 3 IUML 1 KC(J) 1 IFDP 1, JD(S) 1, Ind 1 20
15th Lok Sabha 2009 INC 13 CPI(M) 4 IUML 2 KC(M) 1 20
16th Lok Sabha 2014 INC 8 CPI(M) 7 IUML 2 CPI 1 KC 1, RSP 1 20
17th Lok Sabha 2019 INC 15 IUML 2 CPI(M) 1 RSP 1 KC(M) 1 20
18th Lok Sabha 2024 20

Alliance Wise Results edit

Year Lok Sabha Election Winning Party/Coalition Seats won Runnerup Seats won Other parties Seats won
1951 1st INC 6 RSP 1 TTC/Independents 1 / 3
1957 2nd CPI 9 INC 6 PSP/Independents 1 / 2
1962 3rd INC/PSP/IUML 8 CPI 6 RSP/ Independents 1 / 3
1967 4th United Front (1967–69) 17 INC 1 Independents 2
1971 5th United Front (1970–79) 16 CPI(M) 2 1
1977 6th 20 0 0
1980 7th LDF 10 UDF 8 2
1984 8th UDF 17 LDF 1 2
1989 9th 17 3 0
1991 10th 15 5 0
1996 11th LDF 10 UDF 10 0
1998 12th UDF 11 LDF 9 0
1999 13th 11 9 0
2004 14th LDF 18 UDF 1 1
2009 15th UDF 16 LDF 4 0
2014 16th 12 8 0
2019 17th 19 1 0

State Legislative Assembly Elections edit

 
Kerala Legislative Assembly (State assembly

Members of the Kerala legislative assembly are directly elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of the state from a set of candidates who stand in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of Kerala can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the legislative assembly elections are called "Members of the Legislative Assembly" and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the governor of Kerala on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Assembly Chamber of the Chief Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on matters relating to the creation of new laws or removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of Kerala. Elections take place once every five years to elect 140 members to the legislative assembly. The leader of the majority party or alliance takes oath as chief minister of Kerala.

Year Election Chief Minister Ruling Party
1957 1st Assembly E. M. S. Namboodiripad Communist Party of India
1962 2nd Assembly Pattom A. Thanu Pillai Praja Socialist Party
1965 No Majority No party won a majority
1967 3rd Assembly E. M. S. Namboodiripad Communist Party of India (Marxist)
1971 4th Assembly C. Achutha Menon Communist Party of India
1977 5th Assembly K. Karunakaran Indian National Congress
1980 6th Assembly E. K. Nayanar Communist Party of India (Marxist)
1982 7th Assembly K. Karunakaran Indian National Congress
1987 8th Assembly E. K. Nayanar Communist Party of India (Marxist)
1991 9th Assembly K. Karunakaran Indian National Congress
1996 10th Assembly E. K. Nayanar Communist Party of India (Marxist)
2001 11th Assembly A. K. Antony Indian National Congress
2006 12th Assembly V. S. Achuthanandan Communist Party of India (Marxist)
2011 13th Assembly Oommen Chandy Indian National Congress
2016 14th Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan Communist Party of India (Marxist)
2021 15th Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan Communist Party of India (Marxist)
2026 16th Assembly

Party wise election results edit

Legislative Assembly election results
 
13th Assembly (2011)
 
14th Assembly (2016)
 
15th Assembly (2021)

State-level elections are held to fill the Kerala Legislative Assembly.[3][4] The latest Assembly elections were held on 6 April 2021.[5]

Election Year 1st Party 2nd Party 3rd Party 4th Party Others Total Seats
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
1957 Communist Party of India 60 Indian National Congress 43 Praja Socialist Party 9 14 126
1960 Indian National Congress 63 Communist Party of India 29 Praja Socialist Party 20 Indian Union Muslim League 11 3 126
1965 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 40 Indian National Congress 36 Kerala Congress 23 Samyukta Socialist Party 13 21 133
1967 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 52 Communist Party of India 19 Samyukta Socialist Party 19 Indian Union Muslim League 14 29 133
1970 Indian National Congress 30 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 29 Communist Party of India 16 Kerala Congress 12 46 133
1977 Indian National Congress 38 Communist Party of India 23 Kerala Congress 20 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 17 42 140
1980 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 35 Indian National Congress (U) 21 Communist Party of India 17 Indian National Congress (I) 17 50 140
1982 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 28 Indian National Congress (I) 20 Congress (A) 15 Indian Union Muslim League 14 63 140
1987 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 38 Indian National Congress 33 Communist Party of India 16 Indian Union Muslim League 15 38 140
1991 Indian National Congress 55 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 28 Indian Union Muslim League 19 Communist Party of India 12 26 140
1996 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 40 Indian National Congress 37 Communist Party of India 18 Indian Union Muslim League 13 32 140
2001 Indian National Congress 63 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 24 Indian Union Muslim League 16 Kerala Congress (M) 9 28 140
2006 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 61 Indian National Congress 24 Communist Party of India 17 Indian Union Muslim League 7 31 140
2011 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 44 Indian National Congress 39 Indian Union Muslim League 20 Communist Party of India 13 24 140
2016 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 58 Indian National Congress 22 Communist Party of India 19 Indian Union Muslim League 18 23 140
2021 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 62 Indian National Congress 21 Communist Party of India 17 Indian Union Muslim League 15 25 140

Alliance wise results edit

Winning Party / Coalition Seats won Opposition party/ Coalition Seats won Others Chief Minister
(Party)
1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Communist Party of India (CPI) 60 Indian National Congress (INC) 43 9 E. M. S. Namboodiripad
(CPI)
Independent 5 Praja Socialist Party (PSP) 9
1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Praja Socialist Party (PSP) 20 Communist Party of India (CPI) 29 3 Pattom Thanu Pillai
(PSP)
Indian National Congress (INC) 63
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 12
1965 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
President's Rule
No single party could form a ministry commanding majority and hence this election is considered abortive.
1967 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) 52 Indian National Congress (INC) 9 15 E. M. S. Namboodiripad
(CPI(M))
Communist Party of India (CPI) 19
Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP) 19 Kerala Congress (KC) 5
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 14
1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Communist Party of India (CPI) 16 Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) 29 19 C. Achutha Menon
(CPI)
Indian National Congress (INC) 30
Kerala Congress (KC) 12
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 11
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) 6
Praja Socialist Party (PSP) 3
Socialist Party (SP) 1
1977 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Indian National Congress (INC) 38 Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) 17 0 K. Karunakaran
(INC)
Communist Party of India (CPI) 23
Kerala Congress (KC) 20 Bharatiya Lok Dal (KC) 6
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 13 All India Muslim League (AIML) 3
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) 9 Kerala Congress (B) (KC(B)) 6
Independents 8 Independents 1
1980 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Left Democratic Front 93 United Democratic Front 46 0 E. K. Nayanar
CPI(M)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) 35 Indian National Congress (INC) 17
Communist Party of India (CPI) 17 Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) 14
Indian National Congress (U) (INC(U)) 21 Kerala Congress (Jacob) (KC(J)) 6
Kerala Congress (B) (KC(B)) 1 Janata Party (JP) 5
Kerala Congress (M) (KC(M)) 8 Praja Socialist Party (PSP) 1
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) 6 Independents 4
All India Muslim League (AIML) 5
1982 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
United Democratic Front 77 Left Democratic Front 63 0 K. Karunakaran
INC
1987 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Left Democratic Front 78 United Democratic Front 61 1 E. K. Nayanar
CPI(M)
1991 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
United Democratic Front 90 Left Democratic Front 48 2 K. Karunakaran
INC
1996 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Left Democratic Front 80 United Democratic Front 59 1 E. K. Nayanar
CPI(M)
2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
United Democratic Front 99 Left Democratic Front 40 1 A. K. Antony
INC
2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Left Democratic Front 98 United Democratic Front 42 0 V. S. Achuthanandan
CPI(M)
2011 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
United Democratic Front 72 Left Democratic Front 68 1 Oommen Chandy
INC
Indian National Congress 38 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 45
Indian Union Muslim League 20 Communist Party of India 13
Kerala Congress (M) 9 Janata Dal (Secular) 4
Socialist Janata (Democratic) 2 Independents 2
Kerala Congress (B) 1 Nationalist Congress Party 2
Kerala Congress (Jacob) 1 Revolutionary Marxist Party of India 2
2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Left Democratic Front 91 United Democratic Front 47 2 Pinarayi Vijayan
CPI(M)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 58 Indian National Congress 22
Communist Party of India 19 Indian Union Muslim League 18
Janata Dal (Secular) 3 Kerala Congress (M) 6
Nationalist Congress Party 2 Kerala Congress (Jacob) 1
Independents 5
Congress (Secular) 1
Kerala Congress (B) 1
National Secular Conference 1
Communist Marxist Party 1
2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election
 
Left Democratic Front 99 United Democratic Front 41 0 Pinarayi Vijayan
CPI(M)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 62 Indian National Congress 21
Communist Party of India 17 Indian Union Muslim League 15
Kerala Congress (M) 5 Kerala Congress 2
Janata Dal (Secular) 2 Kerala Congress (Jacob) 1
Nationalist Congress Party 2 Revolutionary Marxist Party of India 1
Loktantrik Janata Dal 1 Revolutionary Socialist Party 0
Indian National League 1
Congress (Secular) 1
Scheduled[6]

List of political alliances of Kerala in power (1980–present) edit

No. Flag Political alliance Total days in governance
1   Left Democratic Front (LDF) 8695 days
2   United Democratic Front (UDF) 7,295 days

Local Body elections edit

Panchayat Elections is a term widely used in Kerala, India, for the polls that are held to select the Local Self-government Representatives. There are three branches of local self-government institutions in Kerala. They are Grama Panchayat which can be translated as Village Government, Block Panchayat and District Panchayat. A Grama Panchayat is almost an equivalent to City administration and District Panchayat to a County. There are two more wings namely Municipality which is another form of Block Panchayat that exists only in major towns and Corporations that come only in six major cities. Consequent to the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India, the local self-government institutions (LSGIs) are to function as the third tier of government.[7]

At present, there are 1200 local governments in Kerala, which includes 941 Grama Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats, 14 District Panchayats, 77 Taluks, 87 Municipalities and 6 Municipal Corporations.[8]

The last Election to the Local Self-government Institutions in Kerala (Panchayat Elections) was held in 2020 december. The results were announced on 16 december 2020.[9] Next local body elections are scheduled to be held in 2025.[10]

Year Municipal Corporation Results Total
LDF UDF NDA OTH
2020 5 1 0 0 6
2015 4 2 0 0 6
2010 3 2 0 0 5
Year District Panchayat Results Total
LDF UDF NDA OTH
2020 11 3 0 0 14
2015 7 7 0 0 14
2010 6 8 0 0 14
Year Municipalities Results Total
LDF UDF NDA OTH
2020 43 41 2 0 87
2015 44 41 1 0 87
2010 20 39 0 0 59
Year Block Panchayat Results Total
LDF UDF NDA OTH
2020 108 38 0 0 152
2015 90 61 0 1 152
Year Gram Panchayat Results Total
LDF UDF NDA OTH
2020 514 321 19 23 941
2015 549 365 14 13 941

See also edit

Notes edit

External links edit

  1. ^ "Messages". sec.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Terms of the Houses". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. ^ "History of kerala legislature – Government of Kerala, India". kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election DATABASE".
  5. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election Schedule 2016". Election Commission India.
  6. ^ "What will force Mr Modi to change course will be the outcome of the state elections in 2020–21". The Indian Express. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  7. ^ Jha, B. K. "All About India's Panchayati Raj System". ruralmarketing.in. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Local Self-Governance – Government of Kerala, India". kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Local body polls in Kerala to be held on November 2 and 5". The Hindu. 4 October 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  10. ^ Suresh, M. K. "Kerala to conduct local body elections in October". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 11 September 2020.