Kerala Elections 2026: Will this be a straight fight between Pinarayi Vijayan and Adoor Prakash

OK, the fourth year anniversary celebrations for the LDF government are over. And for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM, the only outcome that matters in the Kerala assembly elections of May 2026 is whether they can get a third consecutive term. If that happens, it will rewrite history and cement Pinarayi Vijayan’s status as the most consequential leader Kerala has had in recent times.

At the other end of the Kerala political spectrum, the state unit of the Congress has gone through a partial leadership transition in preparation for next year’s elections.

K. Sudhakaran got removed as the state unit President, which was what the whole exercise was about. (This happened even as India was fixated over ‘Operation Sindoor’. And after that, with the ongoing war-of-words between BJP and Congress about Shashi Tharoor’s inclusion in the all-party team to explain India’s position to the world…)

But amidst the new appointments in the Congress’ Kerala unit, there was one that looks just about the best decision the party could have made. This has to do with Adoor Prakash, the MP from Attingal, being chosen as the UDF ‘convenor’, where he will be overseeing Congress’ existing alliances with the likes of Muslim League among others.

At first glance, Adoor being made the UDF convenor seems inconsequential. The role was typically given to Congress old-timers as a sort of post-retirement stint. They only had to turn up for UDF meetings, say a few words to the media, and that’s the job profile they ad.

But Adoor Prakash coming in means you have one of the most skillful politicians in Kerala, having a clear 12 months or so to put together an action plan for the UDF to win the next assembly election. There is no drama in the way Adoor operates – his choice of words are crisp and on-message. After the tumultuous period of Sudhakaran and V.D. Satheesan – where harsh words were regular – Adoor Prakash brings a no-nonsense approach.

This is precisely why the next elections is actually a direct face-off between Pinarayi Vijayan and Adoor Prakash. Sure, Sunny Joseph is the new Congress state President, and Satheesan remains Leader of the Opposition, but it will be Adoor Parakash who will do the heavy lifting to get the Congress and UDF closer to power after 10 years.

Because Adoor will matter if he manages to convince the Jose K. Mani faction of Kerala Congress to return to the UDF fold. If there is no electoral wave against the LDF in May 2026, the small wins will decide who wins or loses. This is where central Kerala and having Jose K. Mani back matter. Something that Adoor has already spoken about, again in that most matter of fact tone that is his trademark.

Adoor will also come in handy in getting Kerala’s business community to have a more favorable view of the UDF. (And please, it’s time the Congress stopped making the Ambanis and Adanis into a vote-getting gimmick.)

And most important, Adoor Parakash will be front and center in the caste politics that always remain an undercurrent in the Kerala electorate’s choice for their next government.  This is where the CPM has held a decisive advantage in the last two elections – and where the BJP is making fairly decent inroads.

But whatever be the hurdles, you get the sense that Adoor Prakash is aware of this. And has the answers to overcome those problems. 

So, in 12 months, will Kerala 2026 be about Pinarayi vs. Adoor?