Barely two hours of counting and the trend already emerged. The LDF has wrested power in Kerala. The BJP-led NDA has consolidated its position. The party has won Nemom and has come second in some constituencies.
The ruling UDF has managed massive wins in Malappuram and Ernakulam. It is a clean sweep for the Left coalition in Kollam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur.
Three parties — Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Janata Dal (United) and the Kerala Congress (Democratic) have drawn a blank in the State.
As per the final tally, LDF got 85 seats, while UDF settled for 47. Five independents are already supporting the Left front.
However, There seems no dearth for election-related violence in Kerala. Two IUML workers were injured in bomb attack at Chemmarathur. A Communist party worker died when country-bombs were hurled at a victory rally. And in Vadakkara, RMP's election office was vandalised.
As it happened
07:53 pm: Thank you for staying with us. Ciao!
7:51 pm: With that, we come to the end of this live updates. A big thanks to the reporters and photographers of Kerala Bureau who were constantly giving us feeds from the field.
7:50 pm: This is a much-needed victory for the Left, as the party is now left with just two States.
7:44 pm: The Left coalition parties will now meet and decide the chief ministerial candidate. V.S. Achuthanandan appears to be the front runner but the name of Pinarayi Vijayan is also going rounds.
7:40 pm: This marks the end of counting in Kerala. Results have been declared in all the 140 constituencies. LDF has got a decisive mandate of 85 seats.
7:39 pm: After re-counting, Anil Akkara of UDF wins by 43 votes in Wadakkanchery .
7:34 pm: The data from the faulty machine has been transferred to a new EVM. May take some more time to know the result in Wadakkanchery, reports Mini Kurien Wadakkanchery is the constituency where Congress candidate Anil Akkara won by a wafer-thin margin of three votes.
7:33 pm: RMP office at Thattolikkara was attacked
7:32 pm: CPI(M) workers attacked BJP worker's house at Peruvattur in Koyilandy
7:31 pm: Martyr's column of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan who was hacked to death by hired goons vandalised in Vallikkad.
7:30 pm: RMP's election office at Vadakkara in rural Kozhikode was destroyed by CPI(M) activists.
7:24 pm: Re-counting starts at Wadakkanchery
6:50 pm: Final tally for Malappuram
Malappuram is the only district where a UDF wave has worked. LDF won just one seat in the district — Ponnani. UDF has 12 seats in its kitty. Remaining four were won by independents. State Minister and IUML leader P.K. Kunhalikutty has won with a record margin of 38057 votes. CPI(M)'s V. Sasikumar lost to Manjamkuzhi Ali by 579 votes in Perinthamanna.
6:10 pm: Kerala is the only state in the country where women outnumber men in population. But the state has not shown any gender parity while electing its MLAs. In the 140-member Assembly, only five are women this time. All of them are from the Left. Shouldn't the fairer sex get a fair representation too?
Here is the list of women MLAs, their party and the constituency they have won
Shylaja Teacher - CPI(M) Kuthuparamba
Geeta Gopi - CPI - Nattika
C.K. Asha - CPI - Vaikom
Pratibha Hari - CPI(M) - Kayamkulam
Veena George - CPI(M) - Aranmula
6: 00 pm: Final tally for Palakkad
Palakkad too went the LDF way. V.S. Achuthanandan won from Malampuzha with a margin of 27142 votes. UDF got three - Thrithala, Mannarkad and Palakkad
5:00 pm: A CPI(M) supporter was killed when a country-made bomb hurled at a victory rally of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Dharmadam constituency where CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan was elected. >Read More
4:40 pm: Final tally for Kasargod
BJP's K. Surendran failed to kiss the victory by just 89 votes. P.B. Abdul Razzak of IUML defeated him in Manjeshwar. Kasargod elected N.A. Nellikannu of UDF. Remaing three seats went to LDF alliance.
4:30 pm: Final tally for Kannur
Pinarayi Vijayan's district not only selected him but also seven other LDF MLAs. T.V. Rajesh (Kalliaseri) obtained a landslide victory with over 42,000 as his victory margin.
4:25 pm: Final tally for Wayanad
The tiny district with three constituencies opted for two LDF persons and one UDF candidate. O.R. Kelu of CPI(M) won with a slender margin of 1307 votes defeating his nearest rival P.K. Jayalakshmi
4:20 pm: Final tally for Ernakulam
Another district that preferred UDF. The Congress-led alliance won in nine constituencies, while the remaining six went to the Left.
4:15 pm: Final tally for Idukki
An almost balanced mandate from Idukki. LDF got three, UDF two. Another reason to call it amost balanced is because in Peerumade, LDF candidate E.S. Bijimol won with a margin of 314 votes.
4:10 pm: Final tally for Kozhikode district
Minister M.K. Muneer (Kozhikode South) and Parakkal Abdulla (Kuttiadi) stopped LDF from a cleam sweep in the district. Needless to say, the Left won in the remaining 12 seats.
4:00 pm: Rains do not seem to deter these CPI(M) cadres from celebrating the Left's victory.
Click >here for more photos
3:50 pm:Final tally for Thiruvananthapuram district
The tide is in favour of LDF which won nine seats, while UDF managed to get four. The surprise, however, is Nemom sending O.Rajagopal to the Assembly as the lone BJP member.
3:40 pm: Final tally for Kollam district
It's a sweep by LDF as far as Kollam is concered. The Left alliance won in 10 out of 11 constituencies. The remaining one, Kunnathur, was won by Kovoor Kunjumon, a former RSP leader who stood as an independent candidate this time with LDF's support.
3:30 pm: Final tally for Alappuzha district
The district has sent eight LDF MLAs and one UDF MLA. The lone Congress MLA is none other than party veteran Ramesh Chennitala.
3:20 pm: Final tally for Kasargod
BJP's K. Surendran failed to kiss the victory by just 89 votes. P.B. Abdul Razzak of IUML defeated him in Manjeshwar. Kasargod elected N.A. Nellikannu of UDF. Remaing three seats went to LDF alliance.
3:10 pm:Final tally for Kottayam district
Kottayam is one district that has given some respite to UDF. The district has elected six UDF MLAs and 3 LDF persons. P.C. George Plathottam, who stood as independent has won from Poonjar with a margin of 27821 votes.
3:00 pm: Twist in tale of Vadakkancherry. Result has been put on hold as one EVM was found malfunctioning. In this constituency Anil Ankara of UDF leads Mary Thomas of LDF by three votes.
2:45 pm: Here are the updates district-wise
LDF wave in Kollam with wins in 10 seats
In Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, the LDF has scored in 9 constituencies.
In Kannur and Allapuzha, LDF has won in eight seats
Malappuram seems to the UDF stronghold with the coalition scoring in 12 constituencies.
2:30 pm: The ruling UDF has won 12 out of 16 seats in the Malappuram district. LDF made gains in the district by retaining Ponnani and Tavanur, and wresting Nilambur and Tanur from the UDF. >Here is the status quo from Malappuram
2:12 pm: Former Finance Minister K.M Mani wins Pala, Oommen Chandy wins from Puthuppally.
2:07 pm: >It's 4/5 for LDF in Pathanamthitta
2:00 pm: Kerala appears to have taken a leaf from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which is famous for sending actors to Assembly. Pathanapuram in Kollam is the hotbed for actors pitted against each other. >Who won where?
1:44 pm: So, Sudheeran's record is already broken. Anil Ankara of UDF defeated Mary Thomas of LDF at Vadakkancherry by 3 votes
1:25 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan over stunning performance of LDF in the Kerala assembly election. Prime Minister contacted Mr Achuthanandan over phone.
1:15 pm: LDF candidate K.U. Arun defeated chief whip Thomas Unniyadan of the UDF for 2711 votes in Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district.
1:00 pm:>Read how a namesake spoilt the chances of BJP in Manjeswaram. Re-counting has been ordered.
12:55 pm: IUML leader and Urban Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali wins by wafer thin margin of 373 votes.
12:48 pm: M. Vincent of UDF defeats Jameela Prakasam of JD(S) in Kovalam
12:45 pm: Position in Malappuram District: UDF wins 8, LDF wins one
Kondotty: UDF (10,654 lead)
Eranad: UDF (9709 lead)
Nilambur: LDF (11,504 lead)
Wandoor: UDF (23,864 lead)
Perinthalmanna: UDF (2010 lead)
Manjeri: UDF (19,616 lead)
Mankada: UDF (6567 lead)
Malappuram: UDF (35672 lead)
Vengara: UDF (38,057 lead)
Vallikkunnu: UDF (9850 lead)
Tirurangadi: UDF (1933 lead)
Tanur: LDF (3412 lead)
Tirur: UDF (7061 lead)
Kottakkal: UDF (12,412 lead)
Thavanur: LDF (14,220 lead)
Ponnani: LDF (11,802 lead)
12:42 pm: BJP's hopes of winning Manjeswaram is dashed as its nominee K. Surendran loses by just 89 votes. This is probably the closest margin by which a candidate is defeated in this Assembly elections. But wait. Kerala is capable of throwing more surprises.
12:38 pm: K Muraleedharan (UDF) wins in the keenly contested Vattiyurkavu
12:30 pm: A quick glance at constituencies reveals NOTA is in the fourth position in the polling race.
12:27 pm: Contest in Kochi is inching towards a photo finish. LDF candidate K.J. Maxy's lead drops from 3388 to 2350 in the ninth round against UDF rival Dominic Presentation. With two more rounds remaining, votes garnered by Congress rebel KJ Leenus is proving to be disastrous for Dominic, says M.P. Praveen.
12:25 pm: LDF wins Kalpetta by a margin of 13083
Real win is that of PC George an independent taking on all 3 coalitions. Wins by 27,000 >#THResults>#Kerala2016 . >pic.twitter.com/FpQHtuWu8B
— biju govind (@bijugovind) >May 19, 2016
12:05 pm: Mohamed Nazeer updates from Pinarayi Vijayan's press meet
Congress and UDF helped communal and reactionary forces in many constituencies including Nemam where UDF candidate got 8000 votes less than his vote share in 2011, says Pinarayi Vijayan
Pinarayi Vijayan says that the verdict is a mandate against communal reactionary forces
"It is people's mandate against decadence of UDF, which has destroyed all values in Kerala"
The poll victory is also an endorsement of LDF's development agenda, says Pinarayi Vijayan
12:01 pm: T P Ramakrishnan of CPI-M wins from Perambra in Kozhikode dist
11:59 am: Mercy Kutty of CPI (M) trounces KPCC spokesman Rajmohan Unnithan by 26,000 plus votes
11:57 am: Veena George is marching ahead in Aranmula over her UDF rival and sitting MLA K.Sivadasan Nair.
11:56 am: LDF'S Sreeramakrishnan ensures victory in Ponnani
11:55 am: CPI candidate V.S.Sunil Kumar has won from Thrissur. He defeated UDF candidate Padmaja Venugopal by 6987 votes.
11:54 am: K.Raju of CPI wins from Punalur by a margin of 33,000 plus votes.
11:50 am: Contrary to the predictions of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan, majority of CPI(M) patriarch V S Achuthanandan crosses an all time high of 25,000.
11:45 am: RSP has been wiped out in Kollam, the traditional strong-hold. The party is trailing in all the three seats it contested in the district.
11:38 am:K.M. Mani declared elected
11:37 am: P.T.A. Rahim Kunnamangalam and Karat Razak in Kodovally (both independents) heading towards victory
11:35 am: K.Muraleedharan of UDF increases leads to 1400 against BJP state president Kummanam at Vattiyoorkavu
11:29 am: KK Shylaja of CPIM defeats Minister KP Mohanan in Koothuparamba by 12229 votes
11:26 am: TV Rajesh wins in Kalliassery by 42891 votes
11:25 am: Actor Mukesh of the LDF establishes a lead of 12,099 votes in Kollam constituency.
11:20 am:
Here is the first Minister of Oommen Chandy Cabinet to fall. Shibu Baby John of RSP defeated in Chavara >#THResults>#Kerala2016
— biju govind (@bijugovind) >May 19, 2016
11:18 am: V.S. Sivakumar wins Thiruvananthapuram constituency. Sreesanth finishes distant third.
11:16 am: Photo finish likely at Vattiyoorkkavu where BJP State chief Kummanam Rajasekharan is in fray, says our Correspondent C. Gouridasan Nair .
11:14 am: Kovur Kunjumon of RSP(L) with LDF support elected from Kunnathur with margin of 20,000 votes in Kollam district.
11:05 am: LDF candidate for Kozhikode North A. Pradeep Kumar leads by over 26,000 votes over UDF's K.M Suresh Babu.
K.V. Prasad reports from Kozhikode: A. Pradeep Kumar says, " Besides showing their anger against corruption, people in his constituency have backed him again on development agenda. I am sure that even people outside of the LDF vote base have voted for me. That's voting for Kozhikode's development."
11:02 am: Actor-turned-politician K.B. Ganesh Kumar elected.
10:59 am: IUML sitting MLA N. Shamsudheen establishes clear lead in Mannarkkad constituency, which comprises Attappady, the tribal region that Prime Minister Narendra Modi equated with Somalia.
10:55 am: Victory of LDF is certain in Payyannur, Taliparamba, Kalliassery, Dharmadom, Thalassery and Mattannur constituencies.
10:50 am: An update from across the state.
Muneer is leading by 3081 votes in Kozhikode South.
Hibi Eden leads by 8842 votes in Ernakulam assembly constituency.
CPI(M) former district secretary T.P.Ramakrishnan trails in Perambra.
MV Nikesh Kumar lead comes down to 19 votes at Azhikode.
V S Achuthanandan establishes clear majority of 12000 voters over nearest NDA candidate C Krishnakumar.
UDF may capture perambra a traditional LDF strong hold in Kozhikode
Veena George of CPI(M) leads in Aranmula by 5572 votes after 11 rounds.
Swaraj in Tripunithura leading by over 2000 votes
Kunhaliktty is heading for record margin
10:49 am: K.K.Lathika, sitting MLA, captures lead in Kuttiady
10:47 am: CPI candidate and JNU Students' Union Leader Muhammed Muhassin establishes clear lead in Pattambi. This is the only constituency where Kanhaiya Kumar campaigned. Sitting MLA C.P. Mohammed of Congress is trailing, says K.A.Shaji
10:45 am: B Sathyan of LDF emerges victorious in Attingal constituency by over 30,000 votes.
10:42 am:M.Noushad of CPI(M) elected from Eravipuram of Kollam district. He defeated RSP veteran A.A.Azeez by a margin of 29000 votes
10:39 am : P.K. Basheer (second from Left), sitting MLA of Eranad, watching the election results at his house along with family members. Photo: Abdul Latheef Naha
10:34 am: UDF may capture perambra a traditional LDF strong hold in Kozhikode, says Aabha Raveendran
10:32 am: Heavy rains puts a damper on victory rallies in Kozhikode as LDF takes a lead in the State.
10:30 am:
>#THResults Upset victory for LDF in Varkala, defeats Varkala Kahar of CPI(M) >#KeralaPolls2016
— C. Gouridasan Nair (@CGouridasan) >May 19, 2016
10:25 am:G. Krishna Kumar updates from Ernakulam district
Perumbavur : Eldhose Kunnappilly (UDF)
Angamaly : Roji John (UDF)
Aluva : Anwar Sadath (UDF)
Kalamassery : VK Ebrahim Kunju (UDF)
Paravur : VD Satheesan
Kochi : KJ Maxi (LDF)
Tripunitura : M Swaraj (LDF)
Ernakulam : Hibi Eden (UDF)
Thrikkakara : PT Thomas (UDF)
Kunnathunadu : VP Sajeendran (UDF)
Puravom : Anoop Jacob (UDF)
Muvattupuzha : Eldho Abraham (LDF)
Kothamangalam : Antony John (LDF)
10:20 am: The first result from Kerala is out. George M. Thomas of CPI(M) wins by 3121 in Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district.George M. Thomas gets 62324 votes. IUML candidate V.M. Ummer is the runner-up.
10:13 am: How does Chandy's place looks now? George Jacob reports:
"It is g rim situation at Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's house. No big crowds. Only his close followers. Still people arrive with complaints. The CM says he would meet media after 11 am."
10:09 am: An interesting observation from our Palakkad correspondent Shaji : In V.S. Achuthanandan's constituency Malampuzha, BJP candidate C Krishnakumar emerges in the second position by pushing Congress candidate V.S. Joy to the third position.
10:08 am: In V S Achuthanandan's constituency Malampuzha, BJP candidate C Krishnakumar emerges in the second position by pushing Congress candidate V S Joy to the third position.
10:05 am: CPI(M) patriarch V.S. Achuthanandan responds to questions from media. A left wave is visible, he says.
"It was a clear verdict against corruption and increase in prices of essential commodities. A clear warning to those who protect anti-social elements causing atrocities against women," the nonagenarian CM aspirant says.
10:00 am: Sobha Surendran of BJP is leading in Palakkad.
9:57 am: Cricketer-turned-politician S. Sreesanth is trailing behind UDF's V.S. Sivakumar in Thiruvananthapuram.
09:51 am: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is leading in Puthupally, so is V. S. Achuthanandan in Malampuzha and Pinarayi Vijayan in Dharmadom.
09:47 am: Sitting MLA K. Sivadasan Nair stood third in his home polling booth at Aranmula AEO's office, reports Radhakrishnan Kuttoor.
09:44 am: Ravisha Thantri Kuntar is the other BJP candidate leading in Kasargod.
09:40 am: In-fight is costing IUML in Koduvally. IUML candidate M.A. Razak is trailing behind rebel candidate Karat Razak by 157 votes.
09:35 am: Here is the status at 9:30 am
NRI businessman and UDF candidate parakkal abdulla leads by 1196 votes in Kutiyadi (Kozhikode)
E.K.Vijayan of LDF leads in Nadapuram.
In Chathannur, sitting MLA and LDF candidate of CPI establishes lead of 17,000 votes over UDF candidate Sooranad Rajashekaran.
Antony John LDF leads Kothamangalam
UDF candidate is leading in Vadakara by 507 votes.
Ravisha Thantri of BJP leads by 3500 votes in Kasaragod segment
VK Ebrahim Kunju UDF leads Kalamassery by 1600 votes
Eldhose Kunnappilly UDF leads Perumbavur 2461 votes; KJ Maxi LDF leads Kochi 654 votes
Minister KP Mohanan trailing at Koothuparamba
09:30 am: LDF candidates are leading in nine out of 14 constituencies in Thiruvananathapuram.
09:25 am: Among UDF candidates, minister M.K. Muneer is maintaining the highest lead, says Mithosh Joseph.
09:20 am: K.P. Beerankutty, an independent candidate is leading in Kondotty. P.V. Anvar is leading in Nilambur. Niyas Pulikkalakath and K.T Jaleel are also leading. They are all contesting with the support from LDF.
09:18 am: UDF is leading in 11 constituencies of Mallapuram.
09:15 am: It appears to a sweep for LDF in Thrissur. The coalition is leading in all 13 seats.
09:12 am:Abdul Latheef Naha gives updates from Malappuram:
UDF is leading in 11 seats, while LDF in 5
09:10 am: NOTA got 72 votes in the first round of counting for Perumbavoor, which shot to national attention following the brutal rape and murder of a Dalit law student. Here, sitting MLA Saju Paul (CPI-M) is locking horns with Congress's Eldhose Kunnappilly, who's now leading by 1250 votes, reports S. Anandan .
09:08 am: LDF is leading in 10 out of 11 constituencies in Kollam district.
09:05 am: Sitting MLA and former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran's son K. Muraleedharan leads by 1357 votes in Vattiyoorkavu constituency.
08:40 am: Here is the status at 8:30 am
PT Thomas(UDF) is leading by 675 votes Thrikkakara.
Parakkal Abdulla (UDF) is leading in Kuttiyadi.
Karat Razak, IUML rebel, leads in Koduvally.
Cong candidate Padmaja Venugopal is trailing in Thrissur.
LDF candidates establish lead over more than 1000 votes at Varkala, Attingal, and Chirayinkeezhu constituencies.
A Pradeep Kumar, LDF, leads in Kozhikode north
Mani leads at Pala
Sitting MLA K Dasan leads in Koyilandy.
Chittayam gopakumar of CPI leads by 1875 votes in Adoor.
Raju Abraham leads by175 votes in Ranni
Mathew T Thomas of LDF leads by 883 votes in Thiruvalla.
Suresh Kurup (CPI-M) leading at Ettumanur.
08:27 am: Three voters have favoured NOTA in the postal ballots at Aluva segment
08:25 am: EVM votes at Kochi to be counted from 8.35 am. Votes in first 14 polling booths to be counted first, reports M.P. Praveen
08:20 am: BJP's Kerala face, O. Rajagopal is leading in Nemom. Will the BJP open its account in God's own country today?
Nemom is witnessing a three-cornered fight among BJP, CPI(M) and SJD. >Read the analysis The Hindu published last month
08:12 am: Kerala appears to have taken a leaf from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which is famous for sending actors to Assembly. Actor Mukesh, who is contesting on behalf of CPI(M) is leading in Kollam.
08:10 am: Counting of ballots begins at all five centres in Pathanamthitta. Postal ballots will be counted first. Collector, S.Harikishore says the poll results in Aranmula, Thiruvalla, Adoor, Ranni and Konni are expected by 11.30 am, Radhakrishnan Kuttoor reports.
08:05 am: Barely few minutes into the counting, we have the first lead. K.B. Ganesh Kumar of LDF is leading by 70 votes at Pathanapuram. This is based on postal votes counting.
>#kerala2016 candidates in tvm prefer to be in home and party offices
— Anil Radhakrishnan S (@anilnan) >May 19, 2016
07:45 am: K. Babu , who was among the first to arrive at the counting centre exudes confidence to K.S. Sudhi that he will win the elections.
K. Babu, a prominent Conress leader and Minister of Fisheries, Ports and Excise is seeking re-election from Thrippunithura. If he wins this time, it would be his sixth straight win.
07:40 am: Strong rooms of all constituency have been opened. Counting to begin at 8 am.
07:30 am: UDF candidate and sitting MLA in Kochi Dominic Presentation, who is facing a stiff battle is about to drop in at the counting centre at 8 am.
While he had a comfortable majority of over 16,000 votes in 2011, things are a lot more tough for the veteran of six elections, says M.P. Praveen
CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan reached Palakkad from Alapuzha in the morning to get a direct feel of counting Malampuzha constituency.
— K A Shaji (@KAShaji123) >May 19, 2016
07:26 am: Two IUML workers were injured in bomb attack at Chemmarathur in rural Kozhikode. Police clamp five-day prohibitory orders, reports Biju Govind>Read more
07:20 am: The EC has set up a centralised counting centre at Vidya Nagar for 14 segments in Thiruvananthapuram, says Anil Radhakrishnan S.
07:15 am: Did you know that Oommen Chandy has had nine straight wins in Puthupally since 1970? >Read more
07:10 am: There are eight counting centres to count votes polled in 16 constituencies of Mallapuram. Our correspondent Abdul Latheef Naha wil be sending updates from the district.
07:00 am: This time Kozhikode will have single counting venue for all the 13 Assembly constituencies in the district, reports Biju Govind
06:45 am: Marking the beginning of eco-friendly election practices, CPI(M) and Congress leaders on Wednesday removed flex boards that were used for campaign in the city. >Read more
06:37 am:The Hindu has stationed reporters in every district headquarters and in major constituencies to give updates from the ground.
06:30 am: Meanwhile, the Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to update trends and results as quickly as possible. You can check the trends at >http://trend.kerala.gov.in/
06:26 am: Kerala has the history of not giving a second-chance to the ruling party. While Congress hopes to break the jinx, the Left is hoping the voters wouldn't change the legacy this time.
06:21 am: Welcome to The Hindu' s live coverage on Kerala Assembly elections counting.
(With inputs from Kerala Bureau)
