2024-06-01 18:37:49
NEW DELHI: The exit poll results for Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Kerala were announced on Saturday.
As per ETG, NDA is poised to win 1 seat in Kerala, while Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to win 19 seats.
On the other hand, C-voter predicted 17-19 seats for UDF and 1-3 seats for NDA.
Moreover, Axis My India projected that BJP will win 2-3 seats, Congress 13-14 seats, and LDF 0-1 seats.
As per ETG and C-voter, LDF will not be able to open its account in Kerala. On the contrary, IPSOS predicted 2-5 seats for Left Democratic Front (LDF), 1-3 seats for BJP, and 15-18 seats for the UDF.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 16, 2024, announced the upcoming Lok Sabha election dates. Polling for all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala took place on April 26, 2024. Like in the past General Elections, Kerala had its elections on a single day, in the second phase of polling of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The election notification was issued on March 28 and the last date for submission of nominations was April 4.
As the EC announced the polling date for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the political landscape in the southern state had been set ablaze with campaigns and strategic maneuvering. With 20 Lok Sabha seats up for grabs, Kerala stands as a crucial battleground where diverse issues ranging from national policies to local issues shaped the electoral discourse.
The political discourse surrounding the elections in Kerala was multifaceted, showcasing a mix of national and regional influences. From the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act to the complexities surrounding electoral bonds, and from incidents of ragging to the persistent challenges of man-animal conflicts, the spectrum of issues resonating with voters was broad and diverse.
One of the key highlights of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 has been the fierce competition between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The LDF, buoyed by its recent performance, fielded heavyweight candidates across the state, sending out a clear message that its alliance within the INDIA bloc holds no importance for the Left coalition in Kerala.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s active involvement in Kerala’s electoral landscape injected a new dimension into the campaign dynamics. With frequent visits aimed at bridging the north-south political divide, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to expand its footprint in the state, posing a formidable challenge to established players.
In the high-profile constituency of Wayanad, all eyes are set on the battle between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and LDF’s Annie Raja, symbolizing a clash of political titans.
Similarly, in Thiruvananthapuram, the contest between Congress’s Shashi Tharoor and LDF’s Pannian Raveendran promises an intense electoral showdown.
Thrissur also emerges as a closely observed constituency with three prominent contenders. The Congress has fielded K Muraleedharan, a decision made amidst the backdrop of his sister, Padmaja Venugopal, defecting to the BJP from the Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally inaugurated the NDA’s campaign in January, endorsing actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi. Meanwhile, VS Sunil Kumar, representing the CPI, enjoys familiarity among the electorate in the Thrissur constituency.
In the 2019 elections, Alappuzha was the only constituency where the CPI(M) managed to secure a victory. However, in 2024 polls, the Congress has asserted its presence in the region by fielding a heavyweight candidate, KC Venugopal, who serves as the AICC general secretary.
Kerala holds the 12th rank in terms of the number of Lok Sabha seats, comprising a total of 20 constituencies. Among these, 18 are unreserved, while two are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.
In the 2019 Parliamentary elections, the United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged victorious in 19 out of the 20 seats. The lone seat secured by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was in Alappuzha, won by the CPI(M).