The Hindu
Elections 2026Kerala / The Hindu
The 3,464-crore World Bank- assisted Kerala Health System Improvement Programme commits the State to a 25-year-loan with a five-year grace period. Public health experts have pointed out the red flags when a State, whose total debt has surged by 80% in the last five years, takes on a 25-year World Bank loan and the pressure of repayment
Mr Vijayans Facebook post on Monday that he was ready for a debate had led the media to hypothesise that a televised, eyeball-to-eyeball encounter between the two leaders would be the peak event in the Assembly election cycles political calendar
Court observes that the Act does not exclude judicial review of the action taken or proposed to be taken or the rejection of the recommendation by the State legislature
What was, until recently, an aggressive outreach has now been overshadowed by a surge of concern over the Union governments proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The perception that the law can be weaponised to tighten control over minority institutions has begun to dominate discourse, particularly in central Travancore
If Mr. Modi says jump, your Chief Minister will jump. If he says lie down, the Chief Minister will lie down. If he says give this to [Gautam] Adani, he will do it
The festival titled Kala/pam - Music Concert for Peace will be organised by the collective Humans of World
NDA releases its Vikasita Keralam Vision manifesto that promises a radical job revolution and a politics of performance to transform the States economic and social landscape
Says the Congress will take a stand against it in Parliament
According to the District Collector, official notices have already been issued to the political parties and candidates responsible for these unauthorised digital expressions
He says despite Keralas immense human potential, the State witnessed negligible industrial growth under successive LDF and UDF governments, thereby leading to economic stagnation and fiscal stress
Father Eugene H. Pereira of the Latin Catholic Church has expressed concerns that without concrete government action on pressing issues like climate change, sea erosion, and inadequate infrastructure, the reports release will fall short of addressing the communitys needs.
SDPI urges Congress to make its stand clear after Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan reportedly asserted that the UDF does not require SDPI votes.
With former CPI(M) MLA P. Aisha Potty now challenging LDFs K.N. Balagopal as a Congress candidate and R. Reshmis move from the UDF to the NDA camp, the election in Kottarakara will test if personal loyalty can outweigh party allegiances in the region.
Pinarayi Vijayans comments came in response to Rahul Gandhis parody targeting the LDF and allegations of a tacit alliance between the BJP and the CPI(M). The CM also raised the cash-for-seat controversy surrounding the Congresss national leadership.
The electoral battle in Kerala is shaping up as a direct confrontation between the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and an invigorated Congress-led UDF, with the BJP-led NDA struggling to muscle in as a third force in the sweepstakes
Rahul Gandhi says Congress-led UDF the only alternative capable of protecting Keralas socio-economic fabric
Antony says politically-neutral public of Kerala as well as a good number of leftists do not want a third term for a government led by Pinarayi and that BJP is not suited for the soil of Kerala, known for its communal amity
Chief Ministers reaction comes a day after Rahul Gandhi sang a line from a popular parody song about CPI(M) leaders alleged roles in the gold theft at the Sabarimala temple
Addressing an election rally in Kannur, Rahul Gandhi reiterates his charge that Congress-led UDF is fighting the combined forces of LDF and BJP in Kerala
Satheesans response came when reporters pointed out that after Rahul Gandhi sang a line from a popular parody song about CPI(M) leaders reported role in Sabarimala gold theft, the Left party began a social media campaign making allegations against Sonia Gandhi
Uma Thomas, Pushpa Das and Akhil Marar are in the fray as the United Democratic Front, Left Democratic Front and NDA-backed Twenty20 face off in Thrikkakara
From a four-cornered contest in 2021, the battle has now sharpened into a more intense three-way fight. It is a rematch between sitting MLA P.V. Sreenijin of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress V.P. Sajeendran, with Twenty20 candidate Babu Divakaran completing the field
Although three T.N.-based parties had actively campaigned in the Tamil-populated taluks of Devikulam and Peerumade in the local body elections, they couldnt win a single seat
Rosamma Punnoose, the first Pro-tem Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, was elected from the segment and administered the oath of office to all members of the first Assembly after the States formation. The constituency with a Tamil legacy has seen several Tamil leaders, including MGR, coming to campaign for elections
CPI(M)s P.K. Shyamala, wife of party State secretary M.V. Govindan, takes on rebel veteran T.K. Govindan, with UDF backing, in a contest that could reshape the constituencys political trajectory; entry of Congress rebel Koyyam Janardhanan adds spice to the contest
Unlike most constituencies in Kerala that witness bipolar contests between UDF and LDF, Kasaragod presents a rare triangular dynamic where BJP consistently emerges as a strong contender, while LDFs vote share plays a decisive role in determining victory margins
Election-time political scandals seem to have a short lifespan in Kerala. However, the ephemeral sensational value of scandals, especially sordid ones, will likely endure
While the incumbent MLA Mani C. Kappen of the UDF is confident of a repeat win, Jose K. Mani is banking on the heavy organisational depth of KC(M) to carry forward K.M. Manis success story in Pala. The BJP is vying to expand its base through Shone George by winning over Catholic votes
The Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved constituency has consistently favoured the LDF since its formation in 2011; while the front eyes a fourth straight victory, UDFs Ramya Haridas and NDAs B.S. Anoop add intrigue to contest
Observers suggest that a dip in expatriate voter participation may hit the United Democratic Front the hardest, given the fronts reliance on support from this segment of the electorate
Two hundred first-time voters in each district will be presented with complimentary halwa as part of the Vote sweetened Kerala
Kerala CMs Facebook post also lists his governments achievements. The Leader of the Opposition had repeatedly dared Mr. Vijayan to prove the LDFs case for a third consecutive term
On its part, the NHAI responded on March 23, saying that the supervision consultant had accorded the highest priority to the matter and that discussions were under way with the KSEB and other authorities concerned
Early signs of her campaign suggest that, compared to her main rivals, she has carved out a strong image as a serious and formidable contender
Keralas Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan says the Congress has brought back 90% of the social groups that left the UDF; he says the LDF government has put the State in a huge debt trap and has failed in the health, education, agriculture and welfare sectors due to which there is a current against the government
Several Church heads criticise the Bill, flagging concern over executive overreach into minority institutions. Congress, CPI(M) too oppose the move. BJP seeks to downplay the Bills impact, says Union Home Minister has promised to address all concerns

21 C