All posts tagged: LDF

Kerala govt scraps ‘Silverline’ high-speed rail project launched by LDF. Here’s why

Kerala govt scraps ‘Silverline’ high-speed rail project launched by LDF. Here’s why

Published by Parlour News

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan announced on Wednesday that the proposed “Silverline” semi-high speed rail project would now be scrapped. The 530-km project was expected to reduce the distance between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod- two districts at opposite ends of the state- to four hours. This was a collaboration between the former government under the LDF administration and the Ministry of Railways, planned by K-Rail. VD Satheesan’s government scraps former LDF administration’s semi-high speed rail project called “Silverline” (PTI) “The Cabinet has decided to scrap the Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod semi-high speed rail corridor project called Silverline,” Satheesan said at the commencement of a press conference. The CM also added that notifications regarding land acquisition for the project will be revoked, as reported by PTI. Why the ambitious project was withdrawn The Congress-led Kerala government stated that the project was withdrawn due to its abandonment by the previous administration and issues pertaining to transactions regarding lands notified for acquisition, a move affecting the common man. The central government’s lack of approval for the project added to the …

Governance is the ultimate currency in Kerala

Governance is the ultimate currency in Kerala

Published by Parlour News

Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor, Ramesh Chennithala, K.C. Venugopal, V.D. Satheesan, Kodikunnil Suresh and others celebrate at Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram the UDF’s victory in Kerala Assembly elections on May 4, 2026. | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Kerala has long kept its own counsel at the ballot box. In the Assembly elections of 2026, the electorate of this politically alert State delivered what many observers had anticipated — a decisive verdict, where the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress, is returning to power with a thumping majority, ending the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) unprecedented decade-long run in office. Equally notable is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) entry, with two former Union Ministers crossing the threshold into the Kerala Assembly. The results show a UDF majority with 97 seats (out of 140), against the LDF’s 35 and the NDA’s 3. The pattern across the recent electoral cycles tells its own story. The 2024 Lok Sabha result, in which the UDF swept 18 of the 20 parliamentary seats, was the …

UDF leads in early trends, LDF trails in counting

UDF leads in early trends, LDF trails in counting

Published by Parlour News

2 min readMay 4, 2026 09:58 AM IST First published on: May 4, 2026 at 09:58 AM IST One and a half hours into counting of votes for the Kerala assembly elections, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) appears to have gained an upper hand. Early trends from 139 out of 140 seats indicate the UDF is leading in 89 and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in 44, while the BJP-led NDA has the lead in five seats. Apart from retaining the lead in its traditional strongholds of Ernakulam and Malappuram, UDF candidates are leading in several seats currently held by the LDF in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode and Palakkad, early trends indicate. In 2021, most seats in the Christian belt had gone to the LDF. A similar trend is seen in the Idukki district, where the UDF appears to have gained an upper hand. The state assembly has 140 members. The LDF has been ruling the state for the last two terms under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which in the 2021 elections broke the …

Exit polls cheer UDF; LDF finds hope in margin of error

Exit polls cheer UDF; LDF finds hope in margin of error

Published by Parlour News

A day after most of the exit polls predicted UDF victory in the Kerala Assembly polls , leaders of the Congress-led alliance appeared jubilant , while the CPM-led LDF dismissed the projections, citing the historically poor record of the exit polls in the state. Exit polls cheer UDF; LDF finds hope in margin of error While the Axis My India poll predicted that UDF would win 78-90 seats, the Manorama C-Voter poll said the UDF could win as high as 94 seats. The halfway mark in the 140-member Assembly is 71. The two polls gave the LDF 49-62 seats and 44-56 seats respectively. The NDA will remain a marginal player and could potentially open its account in the state Assembly, most polls said. KPCC chief Sunny Joseph said that the exit poll results underline the party’s calculations post polling. “We are optimistic about our chances of victory. The exit poll results have shown the same trend. We are evaluating its analysis as well. We are sure that the public sentiment is in favour of the …

Kerala Assembly election 2026 LIVE updates: Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. D. Satheesan, Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohanlal cast their votes; CM says confident of ‘bigger’ LDF win

Kerala Assembly election 2026 LIVE updates: Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. D. Satheesan, Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohanlal cast their votes; CM says confident of ‘bigger’ LDF win

Published by Parlour News

Congress worker and BJP booth agent allegedly assaulted by CPI(M) activists in Dharmadam and Mattannur constituencies A Congress worker and a BJP booth agent were allegedly attacked in separate incidents in Kannur district on the eve of polling day, with both parties accusing CPI(M) activists of orchestrating violence to disrupt the election process. The 60-year-old Congress worker was allegedly assaulted near a polling booth in Dharmadam constituency on Wednesday evening.  The injured has been identified as Prabhakaran, a resident of Kuzhil Peedika in Keezhathur. The incident occurred near booth number 70 at Keezhathur UP School.  According to reports, the attack took place when Prabhakaran was returning after visiting the booth along with booth agents.  He was reportedly intercepted and assaulted by a group of CPI(M) workers. In a separate incident, BJP booth agent Manoli Shaiju was injured after being allegedly targeted in stone pelting by a CPI(M) group at Maloor panchayat in the Mattannur constituency on Wednesday evening  The attack, BJP Kannur South District President and Mattannur candidate Biju Elakkuzgi alleged that the assault was …

Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Idukki election heats up over land issues

Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Idukki election heats up over land issues

Published by Parlour News

Hoardings of LDF and UDF were erupted in Nedumkandam in Idukki | Photo Credit: Asif Baiju As election campaigning enters its final stage, land-related concerns have taken centre stage in the hilly district of Idukki. The Left Democratic Front (LDF), which currently holds four out of the five seats in the district, aims to maintain its dominance, while the UDF seeks a clean sweep of all five seats. Meanwhile, in the Devikulam constituency, the entry of S. Rajendran has turned the race into a high-stakes triangular contest. Both high-profile and local leaders have highlighted land issues, title deeds, and human-animal conflict during their campaigns. Following the release of the LDF’s poll manifesto, the UDF and various farmers’ movements raised serious allegations, claiming the LDF intends to convert the district into a forest zone. The Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM) and Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA) also questioned specific recommendations within the manifesto. Rasak Chooravelil, Chairman of the ILFM, noted that the LDF corrected its manifesto recommendations following these concerns. “This may be the first time …

Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: LDF, UDF in a tight fight in Kuttiyadi; NDA hoping to make a change

Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: LDF, UDF in a tight fight in Kuttiyadi; NDA hoping to make a change

Published by Parlour News

K.P. Kunhammed Kutty, LDA candidate in Kuttiyadi, taking a selfie with a group of youngsters at Villiappally on April 4. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh K.P. Kunhammed Kutty is surrounded by a group of youngsters as he comes out of a wedding event at a house near the Kottiyamvelly Temple in Villiappally on a sultry Saturday afternoon (April 4). They want to take a selfie with the Kuttiyadi MLA. He smilingly obliges to their demand. “I am getting a good response from the people as I am seeking another term in office. Kuttiyadi has seen unprecedented development in the past five years,” Mr. Kunhammed Kutty says as he greets the people who are attending the event. Parakkal Abdulla, UDF candidate in Kuttiyadi, arriving at Mukkadathum Vayal, to attend a meeting on April 4. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh In the 2021 Assembly elections, the senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader, who contested as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate, defeated Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) veteran Parakkal Abdulla, the United Democratic Front (UDF) …

Kerala Assembly elections: Full list of LDF candidates

Kerala Assembly elections: Full list of LDF candidates

Published by Parlour News

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has officially announced its complete list of candidates for the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly election. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] released its initial list on March 15, 2026, which included 86 candidates. This announcement was made by State Secretary M.V. Govindan shortly after the Election Commission of India (ECI) revealed the election schedule. On the same day, the Communist Party of India (CPI) also released its first list, which consisted of 25 candidates. The CPI(M) has fielded a formidable candidate list led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his stronghold of Dharmadam. The lineup prominently features a strong ministerial presence, including Cabinet members V. Sivankutty, Veena George, K.N. Balagopal, R. Bindu, P. Rajeeve, M.B. Rajesh, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, V.N. Vasavan, Saji Cherian, and O.R. Kelu, alongside former Ministers K.K. Shailaja, C. Raveendranath, A.C. Moideen, and Kadakampally Surendran, as well as CPI(M)-backed Independents K.T. Jaleel and V. Abdul Rahiman. Also read| Kerala Assembly elections: UDF candidates full list Notably, the CPI has renominated all four of its incumbent Ministers, …

LDF declares 10 candidates for Kozhikode, UDF, NDA yet to announce nominees

LDF declares 10 candidates for Kozhikode, UDF, NDA yet to announce nominees

Published by Parlour News

A wall being prepared for poll graffiti in Kozhikode. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Indian National League (INL), constituents of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), have declared candidates in Kozhikode district for the April 9 Assembly polls in the State. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are yet to announce their nominees. The CPI(M) is fielding all its incumbent MLAs, except in Koyilandy. The candidates are K.P. Kunhammad Kutty (Kuttiyadi), T.P. Ramakrishnan (Perambra), K.M. Sachindev (Balussery), K. Dasan (Koyilandy), Thottathil Raveendran (Kozhikode North), P.A. Mohamed Riyas (Beypore), and Linto Joseph (Thiruvambady). Mr. Dasan, a former MLA from Koyilandy, is being fielded again in the wake of the demise of Kanathil Jameela, who won from there in the 2021 polls. In Nadapuram, the CPI candidate is P. Vasantham. From Kozhikode South, the INL has proposed Ahamed Devarkovil, sitting MLA and former Minister. In Kunnamangalam, Independent MLA P.T.A. Raheem is seeking a mandate again. The …

Minister’s ‘exclusion’ from PM’s event: LDF holds parallel inauguration of NH-66 Ramanattukara-Vengalam stretch in Kerala’s Kozhikode

Minister’s ‘exclusion’ from PM’s event: LDF holds parallel inauguration of NH-66 Ramanattukara-Vengalam stretch in Kerala’s Kozhikode

Published by Parlour News

The roadshow led by PWD Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas in progress on the Ramanattukara-Vengalam reach in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: K. RAGESH A parallel inauguration of the Ramanattukara-Vengalam reach of the national highway 66 was held in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Wednesday (March 11, 2026) by leaders of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in protest against the alleged exclusion of State Public Works Department (PWD) Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas from the official inauguration ceremony opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi. The protest event, launched with a roadshow near Ramanattukara, was led by Mr. Riyas and local party workers who shouted slogans against the Union government flaying the “exclusion” of the Minister from the official function. LDF leaders and elected local body representatives were among the protesters who also accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of planning the “deliberate exclusion”. The roadshow led by PWD Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas on the Ramanattukara-Vengalam reach in Kozhikode on Wednesday. | Video Credit: K. RAGESH “The exclusion is a humiliation to the State. This …