## Kerala Assembly Polls 2026 – Kottarakara: Summary of Results & Reactions
**Result:**
LDF candidate, Jafar Khan, won the Kottarakara seat with a narrow margin of 793 votes.
**Vote Share:**
* Jafar Khan (LDF): 41,899 votes
* Rajesh Kumar (UDF): 41,106 votes
* N. Sabu (NDA): 34,981 votes
* Others: 1,718 votes
**Previous Election Comparison (2021):**
In the 2021 election, UDF candidate, IB Sajeed, won with a margin of 12,098 votes. The LDF’s vote share has increased significantly, while the UDF’s has decreased. The NDA’s vote share also saw an increase.
**Key Observations:**
* The LDF victory is considered a significant gain, as Kottarakara has traditionally been a UDF stronghold.
* The reduced margin indicates a highly contested election.
* The increase in NDA’s vote share suggests a growing presence of the BJP-led alliance in the constituency.
* The LDF attributes the win to the government’s development initiatives and the candidate’s strong local connection.
* The UDF alleges irregularities in the voting process and plans to raise concerns with the Election Commission. They point to a decrease in their traditional voter base.
* The NDA expresses satisfaction with the increased vote share, viewing it as a sign of growing support for their alliance.
* The election witnessed a high voter turnout of 82.72%.
* The result has triggered a blame game between the LDF and UDF, with each side accusing the other of unfair practices.
* The close contest highlights the shifting political dynamics in Kottarakara.
