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Pinarayi Vijayan Steps Down: End of an Era in Kerala Politics
The Congress-led alliance won 102 seats, forcing the outgoing chief minister to step aside as the governor asked his ministry to serve in caretaker role.
On Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan resigned following the Congress-led United Democratic Front's decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly Election, ending the Left Democratic Front's decade of governance.
Dropping to approximately 39-45 seats, the LDF faced a massive drain of votes in previously safe constituencies after ten years of governance, signaling widespread voter demand for change.
The UDF significantly increased its vote share, bagging 102 seats, while The CPM admitted in a statement: "This requires introspection more than routine justifications."
Governor Rajendra Arlekar requested Vijayan to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until the new administration is sworn in; UDF MLAs will meet in Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow to elect their parliamentary party leader.
Satheesan, the outgoing Leader of the Opposition, is considered the frontrunner for Chief Minister, though observers debate whether the loss stems from Vijayan's combative style or the weight of ten years in power.