Pinarayi Vijayan Gains Ground in Dharmadam as Kerala Assembly Vote Counting Progresses

As the counting of votes for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections continues, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is currently leading in the Dharmadam constituency. The leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has pulled ahead of his Congress rival, VP Abdul Rasheed, with a margin of 3,559 votes following the completion of eight counting rounds. Initially, Vijayan found himself trailing behind, adding a layer of suspense to the ongoing tally.

The counting commenced at 8 AM, with a total of 15 rounds expected to determine the outcome in Dharmadam. In the previous elections held in 2021, Vijayan secured the seat with a commanding margin of over 50,000 votes, and he is now vying for a third consecutive term in office. This time, however, the stakes are high as at least six ministers from the ruling Left Democratic Front are currently lagging behind in their respective constituencies.

As per the latest data from the Election Commission at 12:25 PM, the Congress-led United Democratic Front is leading in 92 constituencies, while the ruling Left Democratic Front is ahead in 40. A total of 140 seats are contested in the Assembly, with a party or alliance requiring 71 seats to form a majority. Among the ministers struggling in the polls are Veena George from Aranmula, MB Rajesh from Thrithala, R Bindu from Irinjalakuda, J Chinchurani from Chadayamangalam, P Rajeeve from Kalamassery, KB Ganesh Kumar from Pathanapuram, and Roshy Augustine from Idukki.

Polling for all 140 seats took place on April 9, registering a voter turnout of 79.6%. The high participation rate reflects the citizens’ engagement in the democratic process. Various exit polls prior to the elections had suggested a probable victory for the Congress-led coalition, intensifying interest and anticipation among voters and political analysts alike.

The unfolding events in Kerala’s Assembly elections not only impact the political landscape of the state but also resonate across the nation as voters and political commentators closely monitor the results. With the counting continuing, the next few hours will be critical in determining whether Vijayan will retain his position as Chief Minister or if the opposition will seize the opportunity to make significant gains.

Source: scroll.in