South Central

Does LDF or UDF have an edge in Kerala? | Trans Bill Horror | South Central 68

Will Pinarayi Vijayan make a comeback, or does the UDF have the edge in Kerala? South Central breaks down the state’s electoral mood, the BJP’s focused strategy, and gaps in UDF campaigning, before turning to the fallout of the transgender amendment law.

Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna

Published:27th Mar, 2026 at 10:07 PM

South Central turns to Kerala this week: will Pinarayi Vijayan make a comeback, or can the United Democratic Front cash in on anti-incumbency? Hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by senior journalists MG Radhakrishnan and Sreejan Balakrishnan, along with TNM’s Kerala bureau chief Haritha John, to unpack the trends shaping the election.

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While there is broad agreement that the UDF has a slight natural edge this time, the panel notes the absence of any clear wave, either for or against Pinarayi. Both MGR and Sreejan point to how the LDF campaign continues to be built around Pinarayi’s image: in a political moment where decisive, even authoritarian leaders are increasingly valorised, Pinarayi is positioned as no exception.

The discussion also turns to the BJP’s strategy in Kerala this time, with the party focusing on a handful of seats instead of spreading itself thin. Haritha points out that the UDF may have squandered its advantage in several constituencies due to lacklustre campaigning.

In the second part of the show, TNM’s Azeefa Fatima and Lakshmi Priya join the discussion to explore the repercussions of the transgender amendment bill passed in Parliament. The two journalists, who cover LGBTQIA+ issues extensively, speak about the shock and disappointment within the community and the options now being considered.

While much of the focus has been on the law itself, they also point to its immediate impact on the ground, with reports already emerging of transgender persons facing threats.

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Audio Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introductions

00:02:22 - Headlines

00:09:27 - Kerala Elections

00:51:39 - Trans Bill Horror

01:11:57 - Recommendations

References

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