Kerala's 2026 election results reveal a political landscape far more competitive than the headline numbers suggest. While the UDF secured a commanding 102-35 victory over the LDF, numerous constituencies were decided by razor-thin margins. In Manalur, the winning margin was just 126 votes, a dramatic shift from the LDF's 29,876-vote advantage in 2021, largely due to the BJP capturing 38,125 votes. Azhikode saw an even tighter contest with only 349 votes separating the winner from the runner-up. The high-profile Kazhakoottam seat, where BJP's Muraleedharan defeated the incumbent CPI(M) candidate, had a margin of merely 428 votes. These narrow victories across at least 10 constituencies underscore the intense ground-level competition despite the overall UDF dominance. Lower voter turnout in some areas, such as Azhikode's 73.99 percent compared to 77.
