Kerala 16th Assembly Begins With UDF In Power And LDF In Opposition After Election Shift
Kerala Assembly begins after major shift in political power.
The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected members of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly marked the formal beginning of a dramatically reshaped House following the 2026 state elections in Kerala, India. The session began at 9 a.m. in Thiruvananthapuram, with Pro Tem Speaker G. Sudhakaran presiding after being sworn in by Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar a day earlier. The proceedings followed standard constitutional procedure, with legislators taking oath in alphabetical order, beginning with Fisheries Minister V. E. Abdul Gafoor of the Indian Union Muslim League.
The opening session, however, reflected a significant political transformation in the state. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has emerged as the dominant force in the 140-member Assembly with 102 legislators occupying the treasury benches. This shift marks a major reversal of fortunes for the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which previously controlled the House but has now been pushed into opposition after a decisive electoral outcome.
The atmosphere inside the Assembly highlighted the change in political power. Members of the ruling coalition were seen in high spirits, exchanging greetings and displaying confidence as they assumed control of the House. The mood contrasted sharply with the outgoing tenure, reflecting what many view as a strong voter mandate for change after a decade of Left government rule under former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
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On the opposition side, the LDF and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) together occupy just 38 seats, creating a noticeably smaller and subdued presence in the chamber. The Left, which once held 99 seats, suffered a significant decline, losing a large portion of its sitting legislators. Analysts attribute the setback to anti-incumbency sentiment and public dissatisfaction with governance style and centralised decision-making during the previous administration.
The transition also brought symbolic moments outside procedural formalities. Senior BJP leaders Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. Muraleedharan and B. B. Gopakumar were seen walking together toward the Assembly, drawing attention from supporters. Meanwhile, Congress legislator Chandy Oommen maintained his campaign-style approach by arriving at the Assembly on a bicycle, continuing a personal political gesture that had become notable during the election campaign.
Overall, the first sitting of the new Assembly underscored a clear political realignment in Kerala, with power shifting decisively to the UDF and the Left entering a phase of recalibration as the main opposition. The session set the tone for a new legislative term defined by changed equations, renewed expectations, and a significantly altered balance of power in the state’s political landscape.
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