The victory of the Congress-led United Democratic Front is matched in intensity and depth by the defeat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala. 

The winners have an immediate lesson to draw from the loser: that Kerala is characteristically disapproving of an über-leader who outshines his own party and keeps the spotlight firmly on himself. The outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had made this election all about himself. The tagline of the LDF campaign was “Who Else, but LDF,” with Mr. Vijayan as its sole face, looming in imposingly large hoardings across the State. The UDF campaign, by contrast, was a teamwork of unprecedented synergy among its leaders — a fact that all of them underscored after the victory. The UDF and its supporters must now resist the temptation to imitate the Pinarayi model of leadership.

Varghese K. George writes:

On May 4, 2026, a tsunami of sorts swept across the State of Tamil Nadu and one man crested the wave – C. Joseph Vijay. An actor, once known as ‘ IllayaThalapathy’, or young commander, amongst his fans, he transitioned a decade ago to the title Thalapathy(commander), a moniker prescient enough, for he did lead his people through one of the most historic debut political appearances in the history of elections in India. In 2026, he was the hero of a full-length feature film starring the Dravidian duopoly and vanquished them.

C. Joseph Vijay, once known as ‘ IllayaThalapathy’ or young commander among his fans, transitioned a decade ago to Thalapathy(commander), a moniker prescient enough, for he has led his people through one of the most historic debut political appearances in the history of elections in India

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