New Delhi, May 4 -- The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)-led government in Kerala is on its way out, as early election result trends show the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is on track to win the state back. The CPIM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) had been in power in Kerala for two consecutive terms since 2016. With the UDF clearly leading in well over 90 out of the 140 seats, CPIM is set to lose the state, which was widely described as the 'last bastion' of the Left.

That is because the southern state, which in 1957 elected the first Communist government anywhere in the world, continued to side with the party even when other fortresses like West Bengal and Tripura fell. With Kerala too falling this time, this wil...