The Kerala assembly election is a significant event in Indian politics, with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) being the primary contenders. The election was conducted in a single phase, with voter turnout remaining robust and consistent with Kerala's tradition of high electoral participation.

The campaign saw a shift in focus over time, with early phases dominated by issues such as corruption allegations, economic concerns, and rehabilitation challenges following the Wayanad landslides. As campaigning intensified, the narrative evolved into sharper political exchanges, including allegations of covert alliances, debates around communal polarisation, and direct attacks between senior leaders.

The LDF framed the election as a referendum on the 'Pinarayi model', highlighting welfare expansion, infrastructure development, and administrative centralisation, while promising further expansion of welfare programmes. The UDF, in contrast, advanced a narrative centred on accountability, questioning the efficiency and fiscal sustainability of the government's policies while seeking to tap into voter fatigue and economic concerns.

Exit polls have indicated a closely fought contest between the LDF and UDF, with only a narrow gap separating the two alliances. According to the poll of polls, the Congress-led UDF is projected to cross the majority mark with around 72 seats in the 140-member assembly, while the LDF is expected to remain close behind with approximately 63 seats. However, projections vary significantly across pollsters.

As counting begins, Kerala's verdict will determine not only the next government but also whether its long-standing electoral pattern reasserts itself or undergoes a structural shift. The outcome will have significant implications for Kerala's governance, economy, and political landscape. The state's electoral history has largely been defined by an alternating pattern between the LDF and UDF, but the LDF's consecutive victory in 2021 broke this trend. The 2026 election will be a key test of whether the state reverts to its traditional cycle or continues with the incumbent.