Congress Returns to Power in Kerala After 10 Years; Thalapathy Vijay’s TVK Emerges as Single Largest Party in Tamil Nadu

In a dramatic reshaping of India’s political map, the Congress-led United Democratic Front has returned to power in Kerala after a decade, while actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, securing 107 of the 234 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP has consolidated its hold in Assam, and the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) has retained power in Puducherry, leading to a complex political realignment in these four regions.

Kerala: Congress-led UDF Storms to Power

Kerala voters have delivered a resounding mandate for the Congress-led UDF, ending the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) 10-year rule. The UDF has won 102 of the 140 seats, far surpassing the required 71 for a majority. The Congress alone secured 63 seats, with its allies—the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Kerala Congress factions—adding 39 more. The LDF, led by the CPI(M), has been reduced to 26 seats, marking a significant setback for the Left in the state.

The victory is attributed to a wave of anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose government faced criticism over economic mismanagement, high unemployment, and corruption scandals. Despite maintaining strict law-and-order, voters have signaled a desire for change by rejecting the status quo. The UDF’s win is historic, as it is the first time in over five decades that no Left government remains in power in India, with the Left already ousted from Bengal and Tripura in recent years.

Tamil Nadu: TVK’s Superstar Debut

Vijay’s TVK has made a sensational electoral debut in Tamil Nadu, triumphing in the 234-member Assembly elections as the single largest party with 107 seats—just 11 shy of an outright majority. The party’s vote share is approximately 34.86%, significantly outpacing the DMK at 24.19% and the AIADMK at 21.35%. The DMK, now in second place with 59 seats, faces the loss of its leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Kolathur stronghold, defeated by TVK’s V.S. Babu by 8,795 votes in a major upset.

The victory is fueled by widespread discontent with the DMK and AIADMK’s dynastic politics, rising unemployment, and agricultural distress. TVK, launched by Vijay in 2022 to address corruption and inequality, has attracted urban youth and marginal farmers. The party’s narrative of “change” resonates amid the 10% unemployment rate and 15% inflation in the state. Stalin’s consolation prize election from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni—by a narrow margin—highlights the party’s humility, but TVK now leads in government formation talks, likely requiring Congress support.

Assam: BJP Considers Saataval

In Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cemented its dominance, winning 82 of the 126 seats—surpassing the 64 majority mark—on a 38.35% vote share. The Congress has slipped to 19 seats with 29.34%, while allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) secure 10 each, and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) takes 2. This victory extends the BJP’s rule to a third term, driven by infrastructure development, job creation, and welfare schemes.

Puducherry: NDA Retains with AINRC Edge

The NDA retained power in Puducherry, with AINRC leading the 30-member Assembly with 12 seats, followed by AIADMK and BJP at 6 and 4 respectively. The DMK and Congress each hold 5 and 1, with TVK winning 2 and independents securing 3. This balance reflects the region’s diversity and coalition dynamics.

Public Impact and Future Outlook

The results signal a national shift toward regional discontent with entrenched parties, favoring fresh faces like Vijay’s TVK and Congress’s resurgence in Kerala. The UDF’s win in Kerala promises anti-corruption drives and social welfare reforms, while TVK’s rise in Tamil Nadu may force alliances with Congress for a stable government. Assam’s BJP victory underscores nostalgia for 2022’s “Saffron Wave,” though Opposition parties may regroup in the next 2026 elections.