The high-intensity open campaign phase for the Kerala elections will come to an end on April 7. As the state goes to the polls on April 9, THE WEEK takes a quick rewind of the key electoral narratives that have emerged since the elections were announced—and who has controlled them.
The election was barely announced when seat-sharing headaches within both major fronts grabbed headlines. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) seized the early narrative advantage by announcing the bulk of its candidates swiftly and decisively, projecting organisational efficiency and confidence. Meanwhile, the UDF, especially the Congress, struggled for several days to finalise candidates. MP K. Sudhakaran's rebellion over the Kannur seat forced the party into a defensive position, allowing the LDF to dominate the discussion on preparedness and stability during this period.
That momentum evaporated almost overnight when veteran CPI(M) leader T.K. Govindan from Taliparamba, Kannur, dramatically quit the party. A six-decade party loyalist and former district secretariat member, Govindan publicly accused the leadership of nepotism after the party fielded P.K. Shyamala—wife of state secretary M.V. Govindan—from Taliparamba. The CPI(M) expelled him for indiscipline. Within days, Govindan announced he would contest as an independent, and the UDF promptly extended support, turning the episode into a major embarrassment for the ruling front. Before Govindan, several other senior leaders had left the CPI(M) and announced their candidacy against the party. Govindan further dented the LDF’s image of unity after the announcement of elections.
The UDF, meanwhile, made the strategic decision to support other CPI(M) rebels contesting against the LDF. These included figures such as former minister G. Sudhakaran in Ambalappuzha, V. Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur, and P.K. Sasi in Ottappalam.
As the BJP-led NDA announced its candidate list, the UDF triggered the “CPI(M)-BJP deal” controversy. It alleged a tacit understanding between the LDF and the BJP, citing the BJP ceding several seats or strongholds to Twenty20 (now an NDA ally) instead of contesting directly. The UDF also claimed that the CPI(M) made strategic moves to split UDF votes in favour of the BJP in seats like Palakkad.
As the narrative gained traction, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responded on March 24, dismissing the allegation and countering that it was the Congress that had no qualms about an understanding with the RSS. This, in turn, became a personal attack on the opposition leader and an attempt to portray that he had endorsed the RSS for electoral gains two decades ago. The UDF further pushed these allegations, pointing to what it called past instances of “adjustment politics” between the CPI(M) and the BJP.
This was followed by mutual accusations of tacit links with the now-banned PFI-backed outfit SDPI. In Nemom, where the BJP state president is contesting, the SDPI announced open support for the LDF—which LDF candidate V. Sivankutty accepted. Meanwhile, in Manjeshwar, where the BJP is in a close contest with the UDF (represented by the IUML), the SDPI withdrew its candidate—interpreted as a move at the insistence of the UDF leadership.
In the interim, the BJP attempted to foreground narratives centred on Hindu identity in the state’s political discourse. In Guruvayur, BJP candidate B. Gopalakrishnan sparked controversy after stating that the constituency should elect a Hindu MLA, a remark that drew criticism from rival parties. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar publicly backed the party’s broader positioning.
However, the party soon found itself on the defensive amid the controversy surrounding proposed changes linked to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). Several church denominations criticised the move as “Draconian”, prompting both the LDF and the UDF to staunchly come against the BJP.
As the campaign entered its final phase, the focus shifted decisively with the eruption of the Wayanad landslide rehabilitation fund controversy. The controversy began when the DYFI alleged that the Congress mobilised funds through an app called ‘Stand with Wayanad,' but these were not reflected in the party’s official financial disclosures. The Congress leadership initially pushed back, arguing that its political opponents had no business scrutinising its internal financial affairs.
However, as the CPM intensified its campaign—calling the Congress “dead body looters”—AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal stated that the funds collected were held in an account with Dhanalakshmi Bank and admitted that the amount so far was inadequate to carry out the entire reconstruction mission. Subsequently, KPCC president Sunny Joseph revealed that the party had collected Rs 5.38 crore to help victims, but Rs 6.18 crore had already been spent on purchasing land for the housing project. He added that another Rs 73 lakh would be required for registration and other legal procedures.
However, these disclosures have not doused the controversy. The Congress has argued that the government was responsible for acquiring and allocating land for rehabilitation and that its failure forced the party to spend heavily on land purchases. Even so, the issue has not subsided. The CPI(M) has highlighted that the LDF government constructed 178 houses in Wayanad as part of its rehabilitation efforts, while the Congress has yet to begin its project. The LDF has also used the controversy to argue that the UDF lacks the will to fulfil its promises, even if it comes to power. The UDF, meanwhile, has alleged that despite a formal key-handover ceremony, several of the houses built remain uninhabitable or incomplete. The LDF has countered these claims, stating that finishing works are ongoing and that the houses will be fully ready for occupation by mid-April.
On April 6, CM Vijayan released a progress report of his government, claiming that 97 per cent of around 900 promises had been fulfilled—a claim the UDF strongly contests.
The UDF, meanwhile, is banking on a strong anti-incumbency wave to override the allegations against it and counter the LDF’s big claims, hoping this will translate into electoral victory.