The UDF appears headed for a landslide victory in Kerala, leading in more than 100 seats and sparking widespread celebrations among Congress supporters. The LDF has suffered a significant blow, even after the fourth round of counting; high-profile ministers in the incumbent cabinet are struggling to hold their ground.
As LDF prepares to be the Opposition, who will the party pick as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP)? Will Pinarayi Vijayan be up for the post?
Potential candidates for the Leader of the Opposition
While CM Pinarayi Vijayan is the central figure leading the 2026 campaign, poll analysts believe that he is unlikely to take the role of Leader of the Opposition.
K.N. Balagopal, who is the current state finance minister, has a strong organisational background. He was a Member of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from 2010 to 2016. He is known to be a key strategist for the CPI(M); he was political secretary to former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.
Saji Cherian, who is currently serving as the Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs, is another possible candidate.
Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, who is also the son-in-law of CM Pinarayi Vijayan, is another contestant for the post.
The disappointing performance of several LDF ministers in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections has significantly narrowed the pool of potential candidates for the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
Other possible candidates for the post were P. Rajeev and K.K. Shailaja. Earlier there was a speculation that former health minister K. K. Shailaja was set to become the CM if LDF comes back to power in the state. Shailaja is contesting from Mattanoor, a UDF stronghold.
