The United Democratic Front (UDF) secured 18 out of 20 seats in Kerala, closely mirroring its 19-1 victory in 2019. However, their celebration was overshadowed by a historic BJP win in Thrissur, a significant constituency with nearly 39% minority votes. This three-cornered contest was expected to show that the BJP’s polarising politics had no foothold in this ‘progressive’ state. Gopi secured a resounding victory in Thrissur, surpassing his closest rival, VS Sunil Kumar from the Communist Party of India (CPI), by an impressive 74,686 votes.
Over the past couple of years, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have intensified their efforts to engage with the Christian communities in Kerala. The primary objective behind this outreach is to expand their support base and strengthen their organisational structure within the state.
In 11 of the 18 constituencies won by the UDF, the victory margins exceeded 100,000 votes. Rahul Gandhi defeated CPI’s Annie Raja in Wayanad by 364,422 votes. The Muslim League, the UDF’s second-largest ally, maintained its dominance in Malappuram and Ponnani, winning by margins of 300,118 and 235,760 votes, despite speculation that the LDF was making significant inroads among Malabar Muslims.
In Thiruvananthapuram, three-time Congress MP Shashi Tharoor faced an early challenge but ultimately defeated BJP’s Rajeev Chandrashekar by 16,077 votes, a significant drop from his previous margin of over 99,000 in 2019.
Here is the complete list of all winning candidates:
Party Wise Jharkhand Election Results 2024
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
| Indian National Congress – INC | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Indian Union Muslim League – IUML | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPI(M) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party – BJP | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kerala Congress – KEC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Revolutionary Socialist Party – RSP | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 20 | 0 | 20 |
Winning Candidate – Indian National Congress (Kerala)
| S.No | Parliament Constituency | Winning Candidate | Total Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Kasaragod(1) | RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN | 490659 | 100649 |
| 2 | Kannur(2) | K. SUDHAKARAN | 518524 | 108982 |
| 3 | Vadakara(3) | SHAFI PARAMBIL | 557528 | 114506 |
| 4 | Wayanad(4) | RAHUL GANDHI | 647445 | 364422 |
| 5 | Kozhikode(5) | M. K. RAGHAVAN | 520421 | 146176 |
| 6 | Palakkad(8) | V K SREEKANDAN | 421169 | 75283 |
| 7 | Chalakudy(11) | BENNY BEHANAN | 394171 | 63754 |
| 8 | Ernakulam(12) | HIBI EDEN | 482317 | 250385 |
| 9 | Idukki(13) | ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE | 432372 | 133727 |
| 10 | Alappuzha(15) | K. C VENUGOPAL | 404560 | 63513 |
| 11 | Mavelikkara (16) | KODIKUNNIL SURESH | 369516 | 10868 |
| 12 | Pathanamthitta(17) | ANTO ANTONY | 367623 | 66119 |
| 13 | Attingal(19) | ADV ADOOR PRAKASH | 328051 | 684 |
| 14 | Thiruvananthapuram(20) | SHASHI THAROOR | 358155 | 16077 |
Winning Candidate – Indian Union Muslim League (Kerala)
| S.No | Parliament Constituency | Winning Candidate | Total Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Malappuram(6) | E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER | 644006 | 300118 |
| 2 | Ponnani(7) | DR. M.P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI | 562516 | 235760 |
Winning Candidate – Communist Party of India (Marxist) (Kerala)
| S.No | Parliament Constituency | Winning Candidate | Total Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Alathur (9) | K.RADHAKRISHNAN | 403447 | 20111 |
Winning Candidate – Bharatiya Janata Party (Kerala)
| S.No | Parliament Constituency | Winning Candidate | Total Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Thrissur(10) | SURESH GOPI | 412338 | 74686 |
Winning Candidate – Kerala Congress (Kerala)
| S.No | Parliament Constituency | Winning Candidate | Total Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Kottayam(14) | ADV K FRANCIS GEORGE | 364631 | 87266 |
Winning Candidate – Revolutionary Socialist Party (Kerala)
| S.No | Parliament Constituency | Winning Candidate | Total Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Kollam(18) | N K PREMACHANDRAN | 443628 | 150302 |
विजयी अभ्यर्थी – इंडियन नेशनल काँग्रेस (केरल)
| क्रम संख्या | संसद निर्वाचन क्षेत्र | विजयी अभ्यर्थी | कुल मत | अंतर(मार्जिन) |
| 1 | कासरागोड(1) | RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN | 490659 | 100649 |
| 2 | कन्नूर(2) | K. SUDHAKARAN | 518524 | 108982 |
| 3 | वडकरा(3) | SHAFI PARAMBIL | 557528 | 114506 |
| 4 | वयनाड(4) | RAHUL GANDHI | 647445 | 364422 |
| 5 | कोझीकोड (5) | M. K. RAGHAVAN | 520421 | 146176 |
| 6 | पालक्काड(8) | V K SREEKANDAN | 421169 | 75283 |
| 7 | चालाकुडी (11) | BENNY BEHANAN | 394171 | 63754 |
| 8 | एरनाकुलम(12) | HIBI EDEN | 482317 | 250385 |
| 9 | इडुक्की(13) | अडव. डीन कुरियाकोस | 432372 | 133727 |
| 10 | अलप्पुझा (15) | K. C VENUGOPAL | 404560 | 63513 |
| 11 | मावेलीक्करा (16) | KODIKUNNIL SURESH | 369516 | 10868 |
| 12 | पथनमथीट्टा (17) | आन्टो आन्टणि | 367623 | 66119 |
| 13 | अट्टिगंल (19) | ADV ADOOR PRAKASH | 328051 | 684 |
| 14 | तिरूवनन्तपुरम (20) | SHASHI THAROOR | 358155 | 16077 |
विजयी अभ्यर्थी – इंडियन यूनियन मुस्लिम लीग (केरल)
| क्रम संख्या | संसद निर्वाचन क्षेत्र | विजयी अभ्यर्थी | कुल मत | अंतर(मार्जिन) |
| 1 | मलप्पुरम(6) | ई.टी. मोहम्मद बशीर | 644006 | 300118 |
| 2 | पोन्नानी (7) | डॉक्टर. एम.पी अब्दुस्समद समदानी | 562516 | 235760 |
विजयी अभ्यर्थी – कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी आफ इंडिया (मार्क्ससिस्ट) (केरल)
| म संख्या | संसद निर्वाचन क्षेत्र | विजयी अभ्यर्थी | कुल मत | अंतर(मार्जिन) |
| 1 | अलथूर (9) | K.RADHAKRISHNAN | 403447 | 20111 |
विजयी अभ्यर्थी – भारतीय जनता पार्टी (केरल)
| क्रम संख्या | संसद निर्वाचन क्षेत्र | विजयी अभ्यर्थी | कुल मत | अंतर(मार्जिन) |
| 1 | त्रिस्सूर(10) | SURESH GOPI | 412338 | 74686 |
विजयी अभ्यर्थी – केरल कांग्रेस (केरल)
| क्रम संख्या | संसद निर्वाचन क्षेत्र | विजयी अभ्यर्थी | कुल मत | अंतर(मार्जिन) |
| 1 | कोट्टयम(14) | ADV K FRANCIS GEORGE | 364631 | 87266 |
विजयी अभ्यर्थी – रिवोल्यूशनरी सोशलिस्ट पार्टी (केरल)
| क्रम संख्या | संसद निर्वाचन क्षेत्र | विजयी अभ्यर्थी | कुल मत | अंतर(मार्जिन) |
| 1 | कोल्लम(18) | N K PREMACHANDRAN | 443628 | 150302 |
Key Candidates and Parties
Rahul Gandhi (INC): Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress (INC), contested from the Wayanad seat, a stronghold for the party. He won the election significantly, reflecting the party’s strong regional presence.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Minister of State, against Shashi Tharoor from the Thiruvananthapuram seat. Chandrasekhar won the election, marking a significant gain for the state’s BJP.
Shafi Parambil (INC): Shafi Parambil, a prominent INC leader, won the Vadakara seat, further solidifying the party’s hold on the region.
ET Mohammed Basheer (IUML): The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) won the Malappuram seat, indicating the party’s continued influence in the region.
Suresh Gopi (BJP): Popular actor Suresh Gopi contested from the Thrissur seat for the BJP and won, marking a significant gain for the party in the region.
Factors Influencing the Outcomes
Voter Turnout: The voter turnout in Kerala was 71.27%, indicating a high level of engagement among the electorate.
Demographic Shifts: Kerala’s demographics have been shifting, with a growing middle class and urbanisation. This shift has led to a more diverse set of voters and a greater influence of urban centers in election outcomes.
Implications for Local, State, and National Politics
Local Politics: The election results significantly affect local politics in Kerala. The UDF’s dominance in the state continues, with the INC being the largest party in the alliance.
State Politics: The results will likely influence the state’s political landscape, with the UDF likely maintaining its stronghold on the state government.
National Politics: The election results have significant implications for national politics, reflecting the BJP’s growing influence in the state. The party’s gains in Kerala could impact the national political landscape, particularly in the context of the upcoming general elections.
Trends and Unexpected Outcomes
BJP’s Growth: The BJP’s growth in Kerala is a significant trend, indicating the party’s increasing influence in the state.
INC’s Dominance: Despite the BJP’s gains, the INC remains the dominant party in Kerala, reflecting its strong roots in the state.
Reflections and Conclusion
The 2024 Lok Sabha election results in Kerala have significant implications for local, state, and national politics. The election highlights the growing influence of the BJP in the state and the continued dominance of the INC. The results also reflect demographic shifts and voter turnout trends in the state. As we reflect on these outcomes, we invite readers to engage with their insights and share their perspectives on the significance of these results for the future of Kerala and India.
