Thiruvananthapuram, April 6 – With just days remaining before the polls, Kerala's high-stakes Assembly election campaign is entering its final phase, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle that could either ensure continuity of governance or trigger a shift in power.
The formal campaign will conclude at 6 p.m. on Tuesday after weeks of intense political activity across all 140 constituencies.
Kerala will go to the polls on Thursday.
All three major fronts – the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – have intensified their efforts, deploying key national leaders to sway voters in the crucial final hours.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are leading the UDF's campaign in North Kerala, while Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is scheduled to lead a roadshow in Kollam.
On the other side, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been spearheading the NDA's campaign after addressing rallies. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is also scheduled to campaign in Palakkad.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term for the LDF, is highlighting the front's development and welfare agenda.
His roadshow in Peralassery later in the day is expected to energize party workers, as the Left relies heavily on its organizational strength and grassroots network.
The campaign this time has been marked by sharp exchanges over alleged "deal" politics, with rival fronts accusing each other of secret understandings to manipulate the outcome.
These claims have added a layer of intrigue, particularly among undecided voters, even as debates around anti-incumbency continue to dominate political discourse.
The UDF has framed the election as a referendum on governance, highlighting rising prices, unemployment, and corruption allegations.
For the Congress-led alliance, this is a crucial battle for survival after two consecutive defeats.
They are banking on a perceived anti-incumbency wave and coordinated efforts by senior leaders to stage a comeback.
The NDA, meanwhile, is attempting to translate its aggressive campaign into tangible gains.
Projecting the Centre's development agenda and the "Modi guarantee", they aim to increase their vote share and emerge as a decisive factor in multiple constituencies, potentially influencing the outcome in a close race.
The resurfacing of the Sabarimala issue ahead of the polls has further intensified the contest, with both the UDF and NDA seeking to tap into its emotional resonance, while the LDF has responded cautiously.
With silent campaigning set to begin after Tuesday, attention now turns to whether welfare politics can outweigh anti-incumbency and how key segments like women and young voters will decide.
As Kerala prepares for the polling day, the outcome, whether a historic LDF hat-trick or a UDF comeback, will be known around noon on May 4.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who spearheaded the Congress campaign, is confident that they will achieve a resounding victory, with similar projections being made by CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan. The BJP, on the other hand, is claiming to be making significant inroads.