In a surprising turn of events, the majority of the outgoing Cabinet members, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, faced defeat in the recent elections, indicating a significant shift in Kerala’s political scenario. Out of the 21-member Cabinet, 20 ministers contested the polls, with 13 of them experiencing defeat, marking a notable setback for the incumbent government. While the final results are pending from the Election Commission, the UDF has secured 102 seats, the Left 35, and the BJP 3.
The Chief Minister himself managed to retain his seat, albeit with a noticeable decline in support. Pinarayi Vijayan, who had a substantial victory margin of over 50,000 votes in 2021, faced a tough competition this time and eventually won by a narrower margin of around 19,400 votes, reflecting a change in voter sentiment. Notable ministers like Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, Tourism Minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas, and Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian from the CPI(M) were among the few who secured their positions.
However, the Cabinet witnessed significant losses as prominent leaders and ministers from the CPI(M) like Veena George, V.N. Vasavan, R. Bindu, M.B. Rajesh, O.R. Kelu, V. Sivankutty, and P. Rajeeve were defeated. The setback extended to allies as well, with ministers from various parties losing their seats. Former CPI(M) heavyweights such as G. Sudhakaran, T.K. Govindan, and V. Kunjikrishnan secured victories in traditional Left strongholds, indicating a shift in the political landscape. The election results point towards a clear voter discontent with the incumbent government, with the substantial defeats among ministers being a defining aspect of this election.
