Assembly Elections 2016: Know your state-- Kerala

The state of Kerala will go to elections in single phase on May 16, 2016 to elect members of the 140 constituencies in Kerala.

Kerala's 13th legislative assembly is ruled by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy led UDF (United Democratic Front ). In 2011 assembly elections UDF won 73 seats as against 67 secured by the LDF (Left Democratic Front ) [Know Your Leader Profile: Oommen Chandy- Indian National Congress]

Let's take a look at the statistics of the poll-bound state:

State: Kerala

Important Dates

Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: April 22

Last date for making nomination: April 29

Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: May 30

Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: May 2

Date of polling: May 16

Results: May 19

Tenure of present govt ends on May 31

Number of assembly constituencies: 140 (124- General, 14- Scheduled Caste, 02- Scheduled Tribes)

[List of 140 assembly constituencies]

Parliamentary constituencies: 20

Ruling Party: UDF

Opposition Party: LDF

Governor: P Sathasivam

Chief Electoral Officer: E. K. Majhi

Total number of votes this year: 2,56,27,620 [Male- 1,23,26,185, Female- 1,33,01,435 ]

Polling booths: 21,498

First time voters: 6.18 lakh

2011 Results (Party-wise):

LDF

Communist Party of India (Marxist): 44

Communist Party of India: 13

Janata Dal (Secular): 4

Nationalist Congress Party: 2

Indian National League: 0

Kerala Congress (Anti-merger group): 0

Congress (S) : 0

UDF

Indian National Congress: 39

Indian Union Muslim League: 20

Kerala Congress (M) : 9

Socialist Janatha (Democratic) : 2

Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy: 0

Communist Marxist Party: 0

Kerala Congress: 1

Kerala Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John): 1

Revolutionary Socialist Party: 2

Facts

• The LDF to galvanise votes would campaign vociferously taking up solar scam issue that has alleged involvement of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
• The BJP is hoping to win at least one seat in Kerala to make inroads into the state.
• Exit polls have predicted that LDF would touch the victory
• The UDF government marred with solar scam is facing the heat of anti-incumbency