India, May 4 -- As vote counting in Kerala entered the third hour, trends showed the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) surging ahead, leading in 91 of the 140 seats. The halfway mark in the Assembly is 71.

The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has been in power for the past 10 years, was leading in 46 seats, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead in three seats.

Exit polls had predicted a UDF victory with a simple majority, with only one poll projecting the coalition crossing the 90-seat mark.

Among key candidates, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trailing by over 2,000 votes in the CPI(M) stronghold of Dharmadam in Kannur district. In the 2021 election, Vijayan had won the seat by over 5...