Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that the 2026 Kerala Assembly election results reflect what he described as the state’s enduring commitment to secularism and cross-community voting patterns. In a post on social media platform X and an accompanying opinion piece, he argued that voters in Kerala continued to prioritise candidates over religious or caste identities, despite what he termed growing national trends toward identity-based politics.

Tharoor cited specific constituencies to support his argument, highlighting what he called “cross-community electoral outcomes.” He noted that in Thavanur, a Muslim-majority constituency, voters elected VS Joy, a Christian candidate. In Kalamassery, a Hindu-majority seat, VE Abdul Gafoor, a Muslim candidate, was elected. He also pointed to Kochi, a Christian-majority constituency, where Muhammed Shiyas, a Muslim candidate, won. According to Tharoor, these examples demonstrate that voters in Kerala continue to “see human beings first” rather than vote along religious lines.

Responding to critics who questioned the absence of a Hindu candidate winning in a Muslim-majority constituency, Tharoor later cited Trikaripur, where Sandeep Varier of the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured victory. He presented this as further evidence of what he termed Kerala’s “model of communal harmony,” arguing that electoral choices in the state cut across community identities in multiple directions rather than following a single pattern.

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In his opinion piece for NDTV, titled “‘Who Else?’ — The Hubris That Shattered The Left In Kerala,” Tharoor also analysed the broader political outcome of the election. He argued that the verdict represented not just routine anti-incumbency but a deeper rejection of the governing approach of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). He said the opposition alliance’s sweeping victory reflected dissatisfaction with what he described as centralised leadership and political messaging.

Tharoor criticised the LDF’s campaign slogan “Matt aarunde?” (“Who else is there?”), suggesting it reflected arrogance that voters rejected. He also said the prominence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the campaign contributed to a perception of “one-man rule,” which he argued was countered by voters seeking a more collective democratic approach. He described the result as a “structural rejection” of that style of governance.

He further said that Kerala’s electorate had resisted communal polarisation and remained focused on developmental and governance issues. According to him, traditional ideological symbols and narratives of the Left have become less resonant with younger voters in a globalised economy. Concluding his remarks, Tharoor said the “real Kerala story” was one of cross-community trust, where voters prioritised political vision and candidate credibility over religious identity.

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