Kerala Election Results 2024 Highlights: As counting in Kerala comes to an end, Congress sweeps state, BJP opens account

Dr MP Abdusaamad Samadani secured a win from the Ponnani seat, marking a second win in the state for IUML.  

After his "unexpected" drubbing in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Tuesday announced that he won't contest elections anymore and would stay away from public life for some time, news agency PTI reported.

Hours after the Election Commission announced the victory of BJP candidate Suresh Gopi in Thrissur constituency, Muraleedharan said he would have won if he contested from Vadakara segment this time as well.

Muraleedharan, a multiple-term MLA and MP and son of former chief minister late K Karunakaran, had to shift to the Thrissur segment from Vadakara at the last minute as per the direction of the party leadership, with the objective of thwarting the chances of the saffron party here.

While addressing reporters after the announcement of the results, an emotional Muraleedharan said he wouldn't have felt this much disappointment if the Left candidate had won.

"I have decided to stay away from contesting elections anymore... because I have lost the mood to contest polls. My decision is to stay away from public life itself for some time," he said.

The Indian Union Muslim League's E T Mohammed Basheer ensured a thumping win from Mallapuram seat, securing 6,44,006 votes. He beat CPI(M)'s V Vaseef by over 3 lakh votes.

Congress candidate Rajmohan Unnithan won by a huge margin 1,00,649 votes from Kasaragod seat. He beat CPI(M) candidate MV Balakrishnan Master.

The Congress has won 12 seats in Kerala so far, including bastion Wayanad. According to the EC website, it was leading in two other seats of Kasaragod and Attingal.    

If you are wondering why the results are taking too long to be called, hold on. This is the normal pace of counting and even if the TV channels go ahead and call winners in certain seat, the Election Commission doesn’t declare any winner till the last vote has been counted. For large seats, this normally goes on well into the night. Before EVMs, it would take up to three days for some seats to be declared. Read full explainer here.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who won a fourth consecutive time from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, on Tuesday said that the poll results were a lesson for the BJP that they do better when they go on other tracks, like development, instead of communalism, news agency PTI reported.

Tharoor said that the poll results were also a 'serious message by the electorate to the BJP that their kind of governance needs to improve colossally'.

In a press conference held a while ago, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he has not decided to choose either of the constituencies. He said he will ask people and decide. Gandhi secured thumping victories in both Wayanad and Raebareli

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor retains Thiruvananthapuram with a margin of 16,077 votes. He defeated BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar who put up a tough fight. Tharoor's margin in 2019 was 99,000 votes. With fourth consecutive win, Tharoor creates a history in the Kerala capital

In Pathanamthitta, Congress Anto Antony wins with 66064 votes. Last time, his margin was 44,000. Anto defeated CPI(M)' Thomas Isaac and BJP's Anil Antony. Anil got only 2.34 lakh votes as against K Surendran's 2.97 votes in 2019

Congress Hibi Eden wins Ernakulam seat with a margin of 2.50 lakh votes. In 2019, his victory margin was 1.69 lakh.

In Ernakulam, Hibi Eden's majority crosses 2 lakh while UDF secures over 1 lakh votes in Malappuram, Ponnani, Kozhikode, Idukki

BJP candidate Suresh Gopi has created history in Kerala by winning Thrissur Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 75, 686 votes. In a thumping victory, Gopi, a former Rajya Sabha member defeated V S Sunil Kumar of CPI and Congress’ K Muraleedharan.

in Attingal, Congress sitting MP Adoor Prakash leading in the final lap

V Joy leads in Attingal while Congress's Adoor Prakash trails, Manorama reported

Ernakulam sitting MP and Congress candidate expressed gratitude to voters as he leads in the constituency. "Heartful thanks to people. This is a scary responsibility. The historic majority has made me more responsible," Eden was quoted as saying by Manorama.

Rahul Gandhi leading in Wayanad with 3.53 lakh votes

BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar admits he lost the battle in Thiruvananthapuram, where Shashi Tharoor is still leading with 15,000 votes. "I thank all people who supported me and BJP. We had a very good positive campaign in the constituency. Our vote share has increased," Chandrasekhar said.

UDF candidate and sitting MP Rajmohan Unnithaan's majority crosses 25,000 in Kasargod constituency, Manorama reported.

The vote share keeps fluctuating in Attingal in Kerala where Congress's Adoor Prakash contests against CPM's V Joy and BJP's Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, TOI reported.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose lead has crossed 3.04 lakh in Wayanad, has won from Raebareli also.

As Shashi Tharoor maintains lead in the last lap, the Congress leader told media,  "This election was a major challenge, but people of Thiruvananthapuram gave me a chance for fourth term. In urban areas, they (BJP) have gained more votes. But rural and coastal areas have favoured us. When a minister (Rajeev Chandrasekhar) in a regime is contesting, many people will vote for him. People think they will get a minister. We cannot prevent such votes."

In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress sitting MP Shashi Tharoor ensures victory in the last lap. He maintains a lead of 15000 votes

Reacting to his impending victory in Thrissur, BJP candidate Suresh Gopi told the media, "People gave me Thrissur. I have placed it in my heart. My performance as an MP will not be limited to the manifesto. I would work for the entire Kerala. I have a module for development which will be implemented. At the same time, I will continue as a film artist, which is my passion."

Shashi Tharoor's lead increases to 10,000 in Thiruvanathapuram at the last lap of vote counting.

INC's Adoor Prakash continues lead in Attingal

After Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar gained a lead of 13,000 in Thiruvanathapuram, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is back with lead.

Suresh Gopi's lead goes beyond 72,000 in Thrissur.

In Pathanamthitta, Congress sitting MP Anto Antony leading with 25,000 votes. BJP national secretary Anil Antony in third position

“Thrissur njan edukkuva (I am taking Thrissur), Enikku venom Thrissur (I want Thrissur)”. This was the punch dialogue of Suresh Gopi, the BJP candidate in Thrissur. Going by the latest trend, Gopi is slated to make a historical win in Thrissur. Kerala has never elected a BJP candidate in LOk Sabha elections in the past.

The 65-year-old actor-turned politician had approached the voters in Thrissur with the slogan ``a Union Minister for Thrissur, Modi’s guarantee’’. It seems that Gopi’s guarantee seems to have gone down well with the voters in Thrissur, a seat presently represented by Congress. 

In 2016, BJP had nominated Gopi as a member of the Rajya Sabha from the constituency of eminent persons. It was in October, 2016, months after being nominated as RS member that Gopi joined BJP.

Since then Gopi had been one of the star campaigners of BJP in Kerala, who could attract huge crowds due to his tinsel world image as a macho star. In 2019, he contested from Thrissur. Although finished third behind Congress and CPI candidates, Gopi had then created ripples in the election.

Thrissur was one of the few seats in Kerala, where BJP had to try luck in the state’s bipolar politics between Congress and CPI(M). In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP fielded actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi from the seat and garnered 28.2% of the vote share as against veteran party leader K P Sreesan’s 11.15% in 2014, showing that his “star status” can help the party bump up its vote share. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Gopi contested from Thrissur Assembly seat, but finished third. However, he got 31.3% of the votes, up from 19.46% for the BJP candidate in 2016.

In 2024, Gopi had made an early entry with several outreach programmes. The party has banked upon the support from Christian votes in Thrissur, which form around 24 per cent of the electorate. Besides, Muslims form 18 percent of the population. BJP also created a pro-party wave in Thrissur with repeated events and road shows of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gopi, who had played the role of a child artiste in Malayalam film Odayil Ninnu in 1965, joined the film industry as a full time actor in 1986 acting in supporting roles. He rose to one of the superstars in the Malayalam industry after his action movies in the 1990s turned to be huge hits. Over the years, he had acted in 250-odd films mainly in Malayalam.

Last year, he was nominated as the president of Kolkata-based Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) and chairman of its governing council. 

In October last year, he had landed in a controversy over an interaction with journalists in Kozhikode. Police had registered a case against Gopi on charges of sexual harassment after he twice put his hand on her shoulder while answering her questions.

Shaju Philip writes

Major setback for CPI(M) in Vadakara.Congress candidate Shafi Parambil leading with a margin of 56,000 votes. Rival K K Shailaja of CPI(M) admits Congress trend in Kerala.

BJP is poised to win Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram. Party candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading with a margin of 24,000 votes. Trailing behind are three-term Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and CPI candidate P Raveendran

Congress's V K Sreekandan leading by a margin of 34,265 votes in Palakkad LS constituency against CPI (M) A Vijayaraghavan.

Rahul Gandhi(INC)-322941

Annie Raja(CPI)-143405

K.Surendran(BJP)- 78976

BJP clearly leads in two seats in Kerala.Suresh Gopi with a margin of 40000 votes leads in Thrissur and Rajeev Chandrasekhar with 13000 votes leads in Thiruvananthapuram.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar's lead increased to 9,000 votes. Tharoor trails

Shaju Philip's analysis after over three hours of vote counting

More than three hours into counting of votes in 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, Congress led UDF is leading in 16 seats, LDF in two and BJP in two.

A major factor that worked in favour of the UDF is the resentment against the eight-year-old regime of the Pinarayi Vijayan led CPI(M) government in Kerala. Resentment against the Vijayan regime was palpable across Kerala even among CPI(M) sympathisers.  CPI(M) during the electioneering had not solicited votes highlighting the achievements of the LDF regime or the Left alternative to the BJP policies. 

An early analysis of the outcome shows that Congress has managed to retain the minority votes of Muslims and Christians in the state, which had gone to the CPI(M) led LDF in the assembly elections of 2021. 

The only election plank of the CPI(M) in Kerala was the CAA, which was notified by the BJP government days before the election schedule was announced. CPI(M) led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was attacking Congress over CAA saying that the grand old party has no stand on CAA and has been treading a soft Hindutva approach. However, on the ground, minorities who were concerned about the return of BJP for a third term, realised that Left which is by and large limited to Kerala has lost relevance at the national level as far as taking on BJP concerned.

In the recent LS elections also, voters in Kerala had voted against an incumbent state government. In 2019 the Congress had swept the state winning 19 out of 20 seats. Then, one of the factors was the Hindu voters' protest against the young women at Sabarimala, which was facilitated by the Left Government following a supreme court verdict. In 2004, the Left resounding victory in Kerala when the state voted against the then Congress state regime led by A K Antony.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar is leading in Thiruvananthapuram with a vote of 4000 votes.

In Vadakara, one of the keenly watched contests in Kerala, young Congress leader Shafi Parambil gain clear lead over CPI(M)  heavyweight K K Shailaja. He leads by 31,000 votes

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's majority crosses 1 lakh in Wayanad. Gandhi contested against CPIM's Annie Raja and BJP state president K Surendran, Manorama reported.

BJP starts celebration in Thrissur where Suresh Gopi's lead rise to 30,000

Congress leader, who leads in Wayanad by over 21,000 votes, has also been maintiaining his lead in Raebareli.

In Kannur, LDF's M V Jayarajan trails behind with UDF candidate K Sudakaran leading with 10,000 votes. In Dharmadam also, K Sudakaran maintains lead, Manorama reported.

With two hours into counting of votes in Kerala, Congress-led UDF looks heading for a near sweep in the state. As per the indications, UDF is leading in 18 out of 20 seats. In 2019, UDF had bagged 19 out of 20 seats.

The most-awaited result from Kerala would be in Thrissur where BJP candidate Suresh Gopi, actor-turned politician, has upset both Congress and LDF. Gopi has been clearly maintaining a lead over rivals V S Sunil Kumar of CPI and K Muraleedharan of Congress. At 10 am, when the second round of counting was over, Gopi had gained a lead of 17,000 votes, indicating that he may open the much-needed account for BJP in Kerala in any Lok Sabha elections.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress sitting MP Shashi Tharoor is facing formidable challenge from BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Both candidates have been taking the lead in turn when counting was progressing.

Early trend from across the state shows that COngress-led UDF has got a massive support from Muslim and Christian dominated areas in Kerala in 2024.

Two hours into counting, Congress is leading in 18 out of 20 seats. BJP leading in Thrissur where Suresh Gopi is the candidate. CPI(M) is leading only in Alathur where state minister K Radhakrishan is the candidate.

In Palakkad, CPI(M) polit buro member A Vijayaraghavan is trailing behind Congress sitting MP V K Sreekandan who has a lead of 13000 votes

As the second round of counting is over in Thrissur, Suresh Gopi is leading with over 16,000 votes. In Thiruvananathapuram seat, BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar is trailing behind Shashi Tharoor of Congress. Tharoor has a lead of only 1,900 votes

Congress is in third position in Thrissur where BJP candidate Suresh Gopi is leading with over 10,000 votes

Suresh Gopi maintains clear lead in Thirssur. The actor is the only BJP candidate maintaining clear lead in Kerala

Out of 20 seats in Kerala, Congress leads in 11, CPI(M) 3, IUML of INDIA bloc, 2, BJP one (Thrissur) and Kerala Congress one

Suresh Gopi is the only BJP candidate leading in Kerala . Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other BJP candidates are trailing

in Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi gains a lead of 21000 votes over LDF's Annie Raja

Rahul Gandhi(INC)-20807

Annie Raja(CPI)-6777

K.Surendran(BJP)-3516

P.R.Krishnankutty(BSP)-63

Ajeeb Muhammad(IND)-33

K.Praseedha((IND)-32

Sinoj AC (IND)-25

K.P.Sathyan(IND)-20

P.Radhakrishnan(IND)-15

One hour into counting of votes, Congress-led leading 13 out of 20 seats. CPI(M) led LDF in six seats. BJP's Suresh Gopi is leading in Thrissur. A few UDF candidates, Dean Kuriakose in Idukki, N K Premachandran in Kollam and E T Muhammed Basheer leading with comfortable edge