The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has made a significant return to power in Kerala, winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, surpassing its previous tally of 99 seats in 2001. The Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was reduced to 35 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured just three seats. Following this electoral defeat, incumbent Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan resigned, prompting discussions about the next chief minister. The UDF is currently facing a leadership contest among three prominent figures: VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala.

VD Satheesan, who has revitalized the party's organizational strength, is seen as the frontrunner. His leadership helped the UDF win 18 out of 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. KC Venugopal, an AICC general secretary close to Rahul Gandhi, claims support from 46 of the 63 Congress MLAs, but would need to vacate his Lok Sabha seat for a bypoll if chosen. Ramesh Chennithala, a seasoned politician with a strong legislative background, remains a key contender, having recently won his seat in Haripad with a margin of 23,377 votes. The political landscape in Kerala is evolving rapidly as the UDF prepares for government formation.