India, March 15 -- Assembly elections in Kerala will be held in a single phase on April 9, and votes will be counted on May 4, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Sunday.

The election is mainly expected to be a contest between the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is hoping to make some inroads into the state.

In 2021, the LDF retained power, winning 99 of the 140 seats. The UDF bagged 41. The NDA has zero representation in the outgoing assembly.

Left- or Congress-led coalitions have ruled Kerala since it was formed in 1956, and the first elections were held...