Political leaders and candidates are undertaking high-decibel campaigning to make a final, fervent pitch to voters (file image)
| Photo Credit: C. RATHEESH KUMAR
Opposing fronts in Kerala are making a final flurry of efforts to woo voters, with open campaigning for the pivotal 2026 Assembly elections ending at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (April 7, 2026).
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar made their closing arguments in separate press conferences in the morning.
Mr. Vijayan urged the electorate to give short shrift to election-time scandals and political tit-for-tats, and vote for “Kerala’s future”. He claimed that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had fulfilled 97% of its 2021 election manifesto promises, spurred development, provided social security, reined in corruption, generated employment, ensured world-class public health service delivery, improved the physical quality of life and spurred business growth.
Mr. Vijayan cast the polls as “the most critical” election in decades. He said neither the Congress nor the BJP augured well for Kerala’s future.
He sought to make a case against the United Democratic Front (UDF) by pointing to the Opposition’s “history of broken promises, poor governance track record (2011-16), and equivocality in resisting the Sangh Parivar’s brazenly anti-minority, anti-backwards class and pro-corporate brand of Hindu majoritarian nationalism.”
Mr. Vijayan said the BJP’s “communally schismatic politics” and the Central government’s “antipathy” towards Kerala’s development, including “denying” federal funding, posed an “existential threat” to the State’s future.
Poll-era hyperbole: Satheesan
Mr. Satheesan termed the LDF’s progress report on governance as an “election-era hyperbole and a falsity garbed in highfalutin officialese”.
He alleged an LDF-BJP electoral deal, sought to put the government in the dock over the Sabarimala gold theft case, a “bone-dry” treasury, “spiralling” unemployment, a “crisis-ridden” higher education sector, exodus of students to other States, misgovernance, corruption and nepotism.
Mr Sathesan sought to sidestep questions about the Congress’ alleged misappropriation of funds collected ostensibly for Wayanad rehabilitation by pointing to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]’s alleged theft of funds collected for the families of party martyrs.
‘Turnstile’ politics bane of Kerala: BJP
Mr. Chandrasekhar made a case for ending the “turnstile” LDF-UDF politics, which he said was Kerala’s “bane and the prime cause” for its social and economic decline. He said both traditional fronts were apprehensive about the BJP’s “growing electoral heft” in Kerala.
“The fear is palpable in their (LDF and UDF) tit-for-tat accusations of having a secret truck with the BJP,” he said.
The three leaders signalled that the 2026 polls will be closely fought.
Leaders and candidates undertook high-decibel whirlwind tours of their constituencies to make a final, fervent public pitch to voters. The electrifying energy of the fierce contest seemed evident in clamorous roadshows and last-minute corner meetings. Campaign vehicles of the contenders wove through constituencies, drowning neighbourhoods in electioneering theme songs set to deafening music, including ear-catching political parodies. Crackers and traditional percussion ensembles heralded the arrival of candidates.
Party workers bearing flags and wearing party colours took out motorcycle rallies as the colourful campaigning reached a crescendo, inching towards a climactic finish in town centres in the evening, marking the end of a torrid campaign season fought under a sweltering sun.
Published – April 07, 2026 03:42 pm IST
