Keralam Election 2026 Live Voting Updates: Polling For 140 Assembly Seats Concludes, 77.75% Turnout Recorded

Polling for all 140 seats in Keralam concluded at 6 PM, with final voter turnout recorded at 77.75 per cent.

According to the Election Commission (EC), 75.01 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 PM. In comparison, the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls recorded a turnout of 74.06 per cent, while the highest-ever polling in the state was 80.5 per cent during the 1987 Assembly elections.

75.01 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Kerala till 5 PM.

62.71 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Kerala till 3 PM, according to the Election Commission of India. Palakkad and Kozhikode districts recorded the highest turnout, with over 64 per cent of voters casting their ballots. Polling is scheduled to conclude at 6 PM.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday cast his vote at a polling booth in Jawahar Nagar in Vattiyoorkavu constituency.

"I request all the people in the state to come out in large numbers and perform their sacred duty,” he said, adding "Hoping that good people get elected. The government we want will come, and there is no doubt about that."

A newly-married couple in Kerala's Pathanamthitta turned up to exercise their democratic right. Divyasree and Ashwant, who tied the knot around 9 AM on Thursday, arrived at a nearby polling station around noon, just hours after their wedding, news agency PTI reported.

BJP Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency candidate and the party’s state unit vice president R Sreelekha on Thursday expressed confidence of a “landmark victory.”

Speaking to news agency ANI, Sreelekha said, "I am confident that NDA will make a landmark victory in Kerala this time. This is the right time. The anti-incumbency is very high. People want NDA to come. Everywhere I go, I get a feeling that people are voting for NDA."

62.71per cent voter turnout was recorded in Kerala till 3 PM. Kerala Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U Kelkar, stated that polling in the state has remained peaceful and a voter turnout of about 90 per cent is expected.

Kerala Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U Kelkar, stated that polling in the state has remained peaceful and a voter turnout of about 90 per cent is expected. He also noted that approximately 4.6 lakh first-time voters are included in the electoral rolls.

"The election in Keralam has been very peaceful and very progressive. At this point in time, we have crossed around 40 per cent of our polling percentage. Looking at the trend, we are very hopeful that we'll be able to reach our target of 90 per cent. The polling started on time at 7 a.m., and at 6 p.m. we'll be closing the polling. It's very heartening to see people turning up in big numbers. We hope that we'll be able to meet our target. This time, the first-time voters have also turned out in big numbers," he said.

State Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar stated that the people are turning up in big numbers, adding that the poll body is likely to achieve its target. "The election in Keralam has been very peaceful and very progressive. At this point in time, we have crossed around 40 per cent of our polling percentage. Looking at the trend, we are very hopeful that we'll be able to reach our target of 90 per cent," Kelkar was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Congress senior leader MM Hassan stated that the UDF will form its government comfortably. "UDF will come to power with a thumping majority. Within 24 hours of counting (of votes), the party high command will announce (name of CM)," Hassan asserted.

Congress senior leader Shashi Tharoor asserted that the fight is directly between the LDF and UDF, adding that the BJP is not a factor in the state.

Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen on Thursday cast his vote in Kottayam and asserted that the entire state is voting against the current government. "When this govt was in opposition, they carried out a witch hunt against my father. They are protecting the people who carried out the witch hunt. They did not take any action. The CBI also concluded that my father was not guilty. Entire Keralam is voting against this government. Today is the day when my father will get justice by giving the Congress govt to the state," Oommen was quoted as saying by ANI. 

While talking to the reporters, CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam stated that the left alliance is set to register another victory. "We will see the victory of LDF once more. LDF is heading towards a mammoth victory. All over the state, we are getting reports that voters are pouring in to vote for LDF...The unholy alliance between Congress and BJP in Kerala has to be defeated...My appeal to the people is to vote for LDF as it is the hope and it is the political force which will defend secularism, democracy, federalism and stand for the poor in the country," Viswam was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is contesting to make a comeback in Keralam after a decade. The alliance has raised several key issues, including corruption, inflation, and joblessness.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas stated that the LDF government did an unparalleled performance this time, adding that the alliance will return to the power. "It is clear that the Left Front is going to come back to power. There is an overwhelming response from the people... People are enthusiastic to participate in this democratic process... Left front government did an unparalleled performance this time," Brittas was quoted as saying by ANI.

CPI-M MP Elamaram Kareem on Thursday cast his vote in Kozhikode. The LDF is contesting to form its government in the southern state for the third time in a row.

As per the data provided by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in Keralam till 11 AM was 33.28 per cent.

While talking to the reporters, Congress leader Shama Mohammad stated that Keralam is dealing with several issues like unemployment. "UDF is winning this election with a huge majority. You must have seen that people on the ground are saying they want change...The state is in debt, there is unemployment, there is a drug problem in the state today...BJP is so desperate that they are buying votes," Mohammad stated.

Senior Congress leader AK Antony stated that the people of Keralam want a change, adding that the UDF will register a landslide victory. "Election is a clear verdict of the people. People want to send off this present LDF Govt. UDF will have a clean sweep in Kerala," Antony was quoted as saying by ANI.

"After the counting, UDF will form the Govt and LDF will sit in the Opposition. They will start discussing what went wrong for this miserable defeat...BJP is not a Kerala party; Kerala people don't like BJP...According to me, Pinarayi Govt's time is over. Hereafter, Pinarayi Govt will continue as a caretaker Govt," he added.

Shobha Surendran, BJP Palakkad candidate, cast her vote in Thrissur and asserted that the NDA will emerge as a major political force in the state.

Senior Congress leader AK Antony cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram. Along with the former cabinet minister, party leader MM Hassan also cast his vote.

BJP State Vice President and Vattiyoorkavu constituency candidate R Sreelekha stated that people of the state wanted NDA to win this time. "I am confident that BJP will make a landmark victory in Keralam this time. This is the right time. The anti-incumbency is very high. People want NDA to come. Everywhere I go, I get a feeling that people are voting for NDA," Sreelekha was quoted as saying by ANI. 

CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar on Thursday cast his vote in Kannur constituency. The CPI leader, while talking to the reporters, stated that the LDF will once again return to the power.

Congress senior leader KC Venugopal alleged that the BJP leaders have been distributing money among the voters. "BJP doesn't know about Kerala, that is why they are distributing money here. One of their candidates was caught yesterday while distributing money. Election Commission is silent on all these things...Election Commission is a silent spectator, completely partisan. Otherwise, we could have expected action from EC yesterday itself," Venugopal was quoted as saying by ANI. 

BJP leader Anil Antony cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram and asserted that the saffron party will emerge as a prominent pole in the state. "This election is going to be one of those decisive elections in Keralam's history...Af ter this election, you will see BJP emerge as a prominent pole in Keralam," Antony was quoted as saying by ANI.

As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the voter turnout in Keralam till 9 am was 16.23 per cent

Parliamentary Affairs Minister and LDF Thrithala candidate MB Rajesh cast his vote in Palakkad. "LDF will come back to power with more seats. We are all set to create a new history," Rajesh told the reporters. 

Keralam Health Minister Veena George stated that the LDF will register third victory in a row. "LDF definitely will get the third chance because all the developmental projects the government has carried out during this time. Take the case of Pathanamthitta; if you look around, you can see what fantastic changes have happened in the town," George was quoted as saying by ANI.

"You can see the stadium, you can see the hospital, you can see all the other new offices, and new roads. So this has happened during this tenure, and people cast their vote for development. People have decided to vote for LDF," she added.

While talking to the reporters, Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the people trust the ruling alliance, adding that false propaganda will not be able to defeat the LDF. "False propaganda cannot defeat the LDF. We always trust the people, and the people trust us...We have travelled with the people for the last ten years, and that journey must continue. We are with the people, and the people are with us...Communal propaganda cannot defeat us," Vijayan was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Congress General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal cast his vote at a polling station in Ambalapuzha.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather cast her vote and asserted that the UDF will make a government with over 100 seats. "I have voted. The people of Keralam have decided that it will be a UDF government with 100 seats in Keralam," Mather was quoted as saying by ANI. 

UDF candidate G Sudhakaran cast his vote at a polling booth in Ambalapuzha. The Congress-led UDF is contesting to make a comeback in the state after a decade. 

Ramesh Pisharody, actor and UDF candidate from Palakkad Assembly Constituency, claimed that the BJP is not afraid of LDF. "In Kerala's scenario, the BJP is not afraid of the LDF. Their main opponent at the National level is Congress. When the BJP came to power, they first said Congress Mukta Bharat," Pisharody was quoted as saying by ANI.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, state BJP president and candidate from Nemom, stated that the BJP has forced the leading alliances to talk about development.

"This is an extremely important election. I am happy that I am a part of it as a voter and a candidate...I request every voter to cast their vote in this important election and make their vote about change. The Congress and CPM are forced by the BJP to talk about development. BJP-NDA's strong show in this election will change the political narrative and make politicians more accountable," Chandrasekhar was quoted as saying by ANI.

Union Minister George Kurian stated that the BJP-led NDA will perform well in the polls. "We are expecting a great mandate for NDA in Kerala and we are requesting the people to vote in favour of NDA," Kurian was quoted as saying by ANI.

Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote at Pinarayi RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School in Kannur. In his campaign, the chief minister stated that the LDF will again return to the power.

Keralam BJP president and candidate from Nemom, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, cast his vote at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram. The BJP-led NDA is looking to expand its voter base in the southern state. 

PA Mohamed Riyas, State Minister and LDF candidate from Beypore Assembly Constituency, said that the ruling alliance will get the majority for the third time in a row.

"We had a record number of development projects. Every month, the LDF government gives a pension, and there is also a new project that is a pension for women and everything, good roads, good government schools, and good government hospitals. People are in favour of LDF. We will get a good majority," Riyas was quoted as saying by ANI.

State Congress president and Peravoor candidate Sunny Joseph stated that UDF will come back to the power in Kerala by winning over 100 seats.

"UDF will win the majority seats. UDF will win more than 100 seats. The local body results will be repeated... We are hopeful... My appeal to the people is to exercise their franchise rightly to elect a government led by the UDF to negate the anti-policy of the present government... The Chief Minister's name will be decided in consultation with the high command," Joseph was quoted as saying by ANI.

Union Minister Suressh Gopi stated that the southern state is set for a change, adding that the BJP has done well in the campaign. "This is a very important day for Keralam... The BJP has done solidly well. They have reached the last grain of the democratic campaign engineering. All those areas they have reached. The last bit they have touched. We can only wait for results. You know very well what the change is before and after," Gopi was quoted as saying by ANI.

Congress senior leader VD Satheesan on Thursday urged the people of Kerala to cast their votes. "My request to all the people of Kerala is that they have to participate in this democratic process. This is their fundamental right and they have to exercise their right. We will come back with more than 100 seats. UDF camp is very hopeful that we will get a wonderful margin, bigger than the 2001 margin," Satheesan was quoted as saying by ANI.

Kerala Congress president and Peravoor candidate Sunny Joseph casted his vote at a polling booth in Kannur. The grand old party is contesting to make a comeback after ten years.

While talking to the reporters, Congress MP Hibi Eden stated that the UDF is going to come back to power after a decade with a huge majority. "We expect that UDF is going to come back to power with a huge majority. UDF is going to have a landslide victory. The people are waiting for a chance to vote against the Left government," Eden was quoted as saying by ANI.

Congress MP Hibi Eden on Thursday casted his vote at a polling station at SNDP Nursery School in Kochi. The Congress is contesting to make a comeback after a decade.

While the LDF will try to return to the power, the Congress-led UDF is contesting to make a comeback after a decade

Over 2.6 crore electors will cast their votes across 140 constituencies to decide the fate of 833 candidates in Kerala.