Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday expressed confidence that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will win over 100 seats in the Kerala assembly elections, with voting taking place today. He said voters are “fed up” with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and are seeking change, calling him “anti-people and arrogant.” Venugopal also accused the LDF government of shielding those involved in the Sabarimala gold theft case.

After casting his vote in Ambalapuzha, he claimed the UDF would sweep the polls, stating that people do not want Vijayan to continue for another term. Polling began at 7 am across Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, with voters lining up at booths. Kerala has 140 seats, Assam 126, and Puducherry 30 in this phase. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will vote later, and counting will take place on May 4.

In Kerala, over 2.6 crore voters will decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies. The electorate includes over 1.38 crore women, 1.31 crore men, and 277 voters in the third gender category. Around 4.24 lakh voters are aged 18–19, while over 2 lakh are above 85. Authorities have set up more than 30,000 polling stations to ensure smooth voting. The election is mainly a contest between the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF, with the BJP-led NDA also increasing its presence. The LDF currently holds 99 seats and is aiming for a third consecutive term.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.