Left Democratic Front

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the Indian state of Kerala. It is led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and also includes the Communist Party of India (CPI) and various smaller parties. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the other being Indian National Congress–led United Democratic Front. The two alliances have been in power alternately for the last four decades. The LDF has been the official opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly since 2026. The LDF has won 6 out of 10 elections to the State Legislature of Kerala since it formed in 1980. It won in 1980, 1987, 1996, 2006, 2016 and 2021. It was in power under E. K. Nayanar (1980–81, 1987–91, 1996–2001), V. S. Achuthanandan (2006–11) and Pinarayi Vijayan (2016–2026). Nayanar served as the Chief Minister of Kerala for 11 years and later became the longest serving Chief Minister of Kerala. After the alliance was elected with 91 out of 140 seats in 2016, it increased its tally to 99 seats in the 2021 election, the first time in 40 years that an incumbent government in Kerala was re-elected, with Vijayan becoming the first chief minister of Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office.