Editing Left Democratic Front (section)

{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Left Democratic Front
| native_name      = {{lang|ml|ഇടതുപക്ഷ ജനാധിപത്യ മുന്നണി}}
| logo             = Left Democratic Front (Kerala) Logo.svg
| logo_size        = 250px
| colorcode        = {{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
| leader           = [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]<br /> {{small|([[Chief Minister of Kerala]])}}
| chairperson      = [[T. P. Ramakrishnan]]
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1979|||df=yes}}
| website          = {{URL|ldf.in}}
| country          = India
| abbreviation     = LDF
| predecessor      = 
| membership       = {{decrease}} 6,590,526
| membership_year  = 2024
| position         = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]{{cref|A}}
| seats1_title     = [[Lok Sabha]]
| seats1           = {{composition bar|1|20|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[Rajya Sabha]]
| seats2           = {{composition bar|6|9|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| seats3           = {{composition bar|98|140|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Gram Panchayats]]
| seats5           = {{composition bar|514|941|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[Panchayat Samiti|Panchayat Samitis]]
| seats6           = {{composition bar|108|152|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| seats7_title     = [[District council (India)|Zilla Parishads]]
| seats7           = {{composition bar|11|14|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| seats8_title     = [[Municipalities]]
| seats8           = {{composition bar|43|86|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}}}
| colours          = {{color box|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|border=darkgray}} Red
| eci              = 
| leader1_title    = [[Lok Sabha]] Leader
| leader1_name     = [[K. Radhakrishnan (politician) |K. Radhakrishnan]]
| leader2_title    = [[Rajya Sabha]] Leader
| leader2_name     = [[John Brittas]]
| founders         = [[P. K. Vasudevan Nair]]<br>[[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
| logo_upright     = 1.15
| logo_alt         = Logo of the Left Democratic Front
| footnotes        = {{cnote|A|The Front is described as a broad left-wing alliance, with [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]] and [[Far-left politics|far-left]] factions.}}
}}
{{Communism in India}}
The '''Left Democratic Front''' ('''LDF''') is an alliance of [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] political parties led by [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] in the Indian state of [[Kerala]]. It is the current [[List of current Indian ruling and opposition parties|ruling political alliance]] of Kerala, since 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Left returns in Kerala |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-assembly-election-2021-the-left-returns-in-kerala/article34482949.ece |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603072711/https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-assembly-election-2021-the-left-returns-in-kerala/article34482949.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the other being [[Indian National Congress]]-led [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|United Democratic Front]], each of which has been in power alternately for the last four decades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election history of Kerala |url=http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/electionhistory.html |website=CEO Kerala |publisher=Chief Election Officer, Kerala |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=9 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509200606/http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/electionhistory.html |url-status=live }}</ref> LDF has won the elections to the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|State Legislature of Kerala]] in the years [[1980 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1980]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 February 1980 |title=Victory of CPI-M-led LDF in Kerala elections manifests swing away from Congress(I) |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19800215-victory-of-cpi-m-led-ldf-in-kerala-elections-manifests-swing-away-from-congressi-806437-2014-02-10 |website=India Today |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513172757/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19800215-victory-of-cpi-m-led-ldf-in-kerala-elections-manifests-swing-away-from-congressi-806437-2014-02-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[1987 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1987]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 1987 |title=It was a vote for secularism, democracy and progress: E.K. Nayanar |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19870415-it-was-a-vote-for-secularism-democracy-and-progress-e.k.-nayanar-799832-1987-04-15 |website=India Today |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118062038/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19870415-it-was-a-vote-for-secularism-democracy-and-progress-e.k.-nayanar-799832-1987-04-15 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[1996 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1996]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 1996 |title=Elections 1996: Marxists-led LDF dislodges Congress(I) and its allies |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-elections-1996-marxists-led-ldf-dislodges-congressi-and-its-allies-833003-1996-05-31 |website=India Today |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118062450/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-elections-1996-marxists-led-ldf-dislodges-congressi-and-its-allies-833003-1996-05-31 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2006]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2016 |title=Return of the warrior V. S. Achuthanandan |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20060410-achuthanandan-returns-to-kerala-poll-fray-as-politburo-changes-its-mind-785568-2006-04-10 |website=India Today |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118062447/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20060410-achuthanandan-returns-to-kerala-poll-fray-as-politburo-changes-its-mind-785568-2006-04-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2016 |title=Pinarayi Vijayan takes oath as Kerala Chief Minister Hailing from a poor toddy tapper's family, Vijayan, a first time Chief Minister, took the oath in Malayalam |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/elections-2016/india/india-news-india/pinarayi-vijayan-sworn-in-as-kerala-cm-2818813/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513172751/https://indianexpress.com/article/elections-2016/india/india-news-india/pinarayi-vijayan-sworn-in-as-kerala-cm-2818813/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and had a historic re-election in [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2021 |title=Election results: Left creates history in Kerala |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/election-results-how-left-may-create-history-in-both-kerala-bengal/articleshow/82354409.cms#aoh=16214989565407&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s |website=The Times of India |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518115709/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/election-results-how-left-may-create-history-in-both-kerala-bengal/articleshow/82354409.cms#aoh=16214989565407&referrer=https://www.google.com&amp_tf=From %1$s |url-status=live }}</ref> where an incumbent government was re-elected for first time in 40 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2021 |title=How 'captain' Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF in Kerala, is set to break a decades-old record |url=https://theprint.in/politics/how-captain-pinarayi-vijayan-led-ldf-in-kerala-is-set-to-break-a-decades-old-record/650583/ |website=The Print |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513172756/https://theprint.in/politics/how-captain-pinarayi-vijayan-led-ldf-in-kerala-is-set-to-break-a-decades-old-record/650583/ |url-status=live }}</ref> LDF has won 6 out of 10 elections since the formation of the alliance in 1980. The alliance consists of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]], [[Communist Party of India|CPI]] and various smaller parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alliance Wise and Party Wise Kerala Election Results 2021 LIVE |url=https://www.firstpost.com/kerala-assembly-election-2021/alliance-party-wise-tally-live-results-updates |website=First Post |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103202425/https://www.firstpost.com/kerala-assembly-election-2021/alliance-party-wise-tally-live-results-updates |url-status=live }}</ref>

LDF has been in power in the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|State Legislature of Kerala]] under [[E. K. Nayanar]] (1980–81, 1987–91, 1996–2001),<ref>{{Cite web |title=KERALA NIYAMASABHA E.K.NAYANAR |url=http://www.stateofkerala.in/niyamasabha/e_k_nayanar.php |website=stateofkerala.in |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528032719/https://stateofkerala.in/niyamasabha/e_k_nayanar.php |url-status=live }}</ref> [[V. S. Achuthanandan]] (2006-11),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala Council of Ministers:2006–2011 |url=http://keralaassembly.org/ministry2006.html |website=keralaassembly.org |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818104847/http://www.keralaassembly.org/ministry2006.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] (2016–current).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chief Ministers of kerala |url=https://kerala.gov.in/chief-ministers-since-1957 |website=kerala.gov.in |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817230704/https://kerala.gov.in/chief-ministers-since-1957 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[E. K. Nayanar]] served as the Chief Minister of Kerala for 11 years and later became the longest serving [[Chief Minister of Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=E.K.Nayanar |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m474.htm |website=niyamasabha.org |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=8 September 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130908154040/http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m474.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The alliance led by [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] returned to power in [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016 Assembly Election]] winning 91 out of 140 seats and further increasing its tally to 99 seats in the [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021 Assembly Election]]. Pinarayi Vijayan became the first [[Chief minister of Kerala]] to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office after a [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|historic election in 2021]] where an incumbent government was re-elected for the first time in 40 years.<ref name="The Economic Times">{{Cite news |title=LDF shatters Kerala's 40-year record, Pinarayi Vijayan now the Marxist Helmsman |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/kerala/ldf-shatters-keralas-40-year-record-pinarayi-vijayan-now-the-marxist-helmsman/articleshow/82359214.cms?from=mdr |access-date=3 May 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206100814/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/kerala/ldf-shatters-keralas-40-year-record-pinarayi-vijayan-now-the-marxist-helmsman/articleshow/82359214.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref>
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