Elections in Kerala are regularly held to appoint representatives at various levels, both within the state of Kerala and in India as a whole. These elections encompass national elections, state elections as well as regional elections for municipal bodies and panchayats.
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.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) prepares the electoral rolls for elections to the Parliament of India (Lok Sabha) and the Kerala Legislative Assembly, and conducts these elections.
Kerala State Election Commission (SEC) prepares the electoral rolls of Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations and conduct their elections. The State Election Commissioner is also the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission.
Types of elections Elections in Kerala include elections for: Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Elected indirectly by the elected members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) Elected directly by the people. Election is based on the first-past-the-post system. Members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly (State Assembly) Elected directly by the people who are registered voters in the respective constituency. Members of local governance bodies (municipal bodies and panchayats) Elected directly by the people who are registered voters in the respective ward/division. A by-election is held when the seat-holder of a particular constituency dies, resigns, or is disqualified.
Lok Sabha elections
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. 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, 11 out of 16 election from 1957 in Kerala.
The elections for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Lok Sabha election results Party Wise Results Lok Sabha Election Year1st Party2nd Party3rd Party4th Party Others Total Seats2nd Lok Sabha1957CPI 9INC 6PSP 1Ind 2183rd Lok Sabha1962CPI 6INC 5IUML 2RSP 1Ind 3174th Lok Sabha1967CPI(M) 9CPI 3SSP 3IUML 2INC 1, Ind 1195th Lok Sabha1971INC(R) 6CPI 3KC 3CPI(M) 2RSP 2, IUML 2, Ind 1196th Lok Sabha1977INC 9CPI 4IUML 2KC 2IC (S) 1, RSP 1197th Lok Sabha1980CPI(M) 6INC (I) 4INC (U) 3CPI 2IUML 2, KC 2, Ind 1208th Lok Sabha1984INC 13KC (J) 2IUML 2CPI(M) 1IC (S) 1, JP 1,209th Lok Sabha1989INC 14CPI(M) 2IUML 2KC (M) 1IC (S) 12010th Lok Sabha1991INC 13CPI(M) 3IUML 2KC (M) 1IC (S) 12011th Lok Sabha1996INC 7CPI(M) 5CPI 2IUML 2JD 1, KC (M) 1, RSP 1, Ind 12012th Lok Sabha1998INC 8CPI(M) 4CPI 2IUML 2KC (M) 1, RSP 1, Ind 22013th Lok Sabha1999INC 8CPI(M) 4IUML 2KC(M) 1KC 12014th Lok Sabha2004CPI(M) 12CPI 3IUML 1KC(J) 1IFDP 1, JD(S) 1, Ind 12015th Lok Sabha2009INC 13CPI(M) 4IUML 2KC(M) 1 –2016th Lok Sabha2014INC 8CPI(M) 7IUML 2CPI 1KC (M) 1, RSP 12017th Lok Sabha2019INC 15IUML 2CPI(M) 1RSP 1KC(M) 12018th Lok Sabha2024INC 14IUML 2CPI(M) 1BJP 1RSP 1, KC 120
Alliance Wise Results YearLok Sabha Election1st AllianceSeats won2nd AllianceSeats wonOther partiesSeats won19572ndCPI9INC6PSP/Independents1 / 219623rdINC/PSP/IUML8CPI6RSP/ Independents1 / 319674thUnited Front17INC1Independents119715thUnited Front16CPI(M)2119776th200019807thLDF12UDF801984 8thUDF18LDF2019899th1730199110th1550199611th10100199812th1190199913th1190200414thLDF18UDF1NDA1200915thUDF16LDF40201416th1280201917th1910202418th181NDA1
State Legislative Assembly elections
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 Party19571st AssemblyE. M. S. Namboodiripad19622nd AssemblyPattom A. Thanu Pillai1965No MajorityNo party won a majority19673rd AssemblyE. M. S. Namboodiripad19714th AssemblyC. Achutha Menon19775th AssemblyK. Karunakaran19806th AssemblyE. K. Nayanar19827th AssemblyK. Karunakaran19878th AssemblyE. K. Nayanar19919th AssemblyK. Karunakaran199610th AssemblyE. K. Nayanar200111th AssemblyA. K. Antony200612th AssemblyV. S. Achuthanandan201113th AssemblyOommen Chandy201614th AssemblyPinarayi Vijayan202115th Assembly202616th AssemblyV. D. Satheesan
Party wise election results Legislative Assembly election results State-level elections are held to fill the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The latest Assembly elections were held on 6 April 2021. Election Year1st Party2nd Party3rd Party4th PartyOthersTotal SeatsPartySeatsPartySeatsPartySeatsPartySeats1957Communist Party of India 60Indian National Congress 43Praja Socialist Party 9141261960Indian National Congress 63Communist Party of India 29Praja Socialist Party 20Indian Union Muslim League 1131261965Communist Party of India (Marxist) 40Indian National Congress 36Kerala Congress 23Samyukta Socialist Party 13211331967Communist Party of India (Marxist) 52Communist Party of India 19Samyukta Socialist Party 19Indian Union Muslim League 14291331970Indian National Congress 30Communist Party of India (Marxist) 29Communist Party of India 16Kerala Congress 12461331977Indian National Congress 38Communist Party of India 23Kerala Congress 20Communist Party of India (Marxist) 17421401980Communist Party of India (Marxist) 35Indian National Congress (U) 21Communist Party of India 17Indian National Congress (I)17501401982Communist Party of India (Marxist) 28Indian National Congress (I)20Congress (A) 15Indian Union Muslim League 14631401987Communist Party of India (Marxist) 38Indian National Congress 33Communist Party of India 16Indian Union Muslim League 15381401991Indian National Congress 55Communist Party of India (Marxist) 28Indian Union Muslim League 19Communist Party of India 12261401996Communist Party of India (Marxist) 40Indian National Congress 37Communist Party of India 18Indian Union Muslim League 13321402001Indian National Congress 63Communist Party of India (Marxist) 24Indian Union Muslim League 16Kerala Congress (M) 9281402006Communist Party of India (Marxist) 61Indian National Congress 24Communist Party of India 17Indian Union Muslim League 7311402011Communist Party of India (Marxist) 44Indian National Congress 39Indian Union Muslim League 20Communist Party of India 13241402016Communist Party of India (Marxist) 58Indian National Congress 22Communist Party of India 19Indian Union Muslim League 18231402021Communist Party of India (Marxist) 62Indian National Congress 21Communist Party of India 17Indian Union Muslim League 15251402026Indian National Congress 63Communist Party of India (Marxist) 26Indian Union Muslim League 22Communist Party of India 821140
Alliance wise results