Left Democratic Front

Left Democratic Front
ഇടതുപക്ഷ ജനാധിപത്യ മുന്നണി
AbbreviationLDF
LeaderPinarayi Vijayan
(Chief Minister of Kerala)
ChairpersonT. P. Ramakrishnan
Lok Sabha LeaderK. Radhakrishnan
Rajya Sabha LeaderJohn Brittas
FoundersP. K. Vasudevan Nair
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Founded1979; 45 years ago (1979)
Membership (2024)Decrease 6,590,526
Political positionLeft-wing
Colours  Red
Lok Sabha
1 / 20
Rajya Sabha
6 / 9
Kerala Legislative Assembly
99 / 140
Gram Panchayats
514 / 941
Panchayat Samitis
108 / 152
Zilla Parishads
11 / 14
Municipalities
43 / 86
Website
ldf.in

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties led by Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the current ruling political alliance of Kerala, since 2016.[1] It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the other being Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front, each of which has been in power alternately for the last four decades.[2] LDF has won the elections to the State Legislature of Kerala in the years 1980,[3] 1987,[4] 1996,[5] 2006,[6] 2016[7] and had a historic re-election in 2021[8] where an incumbent government was re-elected for first time in 40 years.[9] LDF has won 6 out of 10 elections since the formation of the alliance in 1980. The alliance consists of CPI(M), CPI and various smaller parties.[10]

LDF has been in power in the State Legislature of Kerala under E. K. Nayanar (1980–1981, 1987–1991, 1996–2001),[11] V. S. Achuthanandan (2006–2011),[12] Pinarayi Vijayan (2016–current).[13] E. K. Nayanar served as the Chief Minister of Kerala for 11 years and later became the longest serving Chief Minister of Kerala.[14]

The alliance led by Pinarayi Vijayan returned to power in 2016 Assembly Election winning 91 out of 140 seats and further increasing its tally to 99 seats in the 2021 Assembly Election. Pinarayi Vijayan became the first Chief minister of Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office after a historic election in 2021 where an incumbent government was re-elected for the first time in 40 years.[15]

  1. ^ "The Left returns in Kerala". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Election history of Kerala". CEO Kerala. Chief Election Officer, Kerala. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Victory of CPI-M-led LDF in Kerala elections manifests swing away from Congress(I)". India Today. 15 February 1980. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  4. ^ "It was a vote for secularism, democracy and progress: E.K. Nayanar". India Today. 15 April 1987. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Elections 1996: Marxists-led LDF dislodges Congress(I) and its allies". India Today. 31 May 1996. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Return of the warrior V. S. Achuthanandan". India Today. 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as Kerala Chief Minister Hailing from a poor toddy tapper's family, Vijayan, a first time Chief Minister, took the oath in Malayalam". The Indian Express. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Election results: Left creates history in Kerala". The Times of India. 2 May 2021. %1$s Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  9. ^ "How 'captain' Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF in Kerala, is set to break a decades-old record". The Print. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Alliance Wise and Party Wise Kerala Election Results 2021 LIVE". First Post. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  11. ^ "KERALA NIYAMASABHA E.K.NAYANAR". stateofkerala.in. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Kerala Council of Ministers:2006–2011". keralaassembly.org. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Chief Ministers of kerala". kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  14. ^ "E.K.Nayanar". niyamasabha.org. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  15. ^ "LDF shatters Kerala's 40-year record, Pinarayi Vijayan now the Marxist Helmsman". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.