The Kerala Assembly elections were held in single phase on 16 May and results were declared on 19 May 2016. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front emerged victorious with 91 seats. Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was the runner-up with 47 seats. The Kerala state Assembly comprises 140 constituencies. The centrist UDF and leftist LDF are the two main coalitions in the state with power alternating between the two at regular intervals. The UDF won by a narrow margin of four seats in 2011. The LDF clinched power this time with a resounding majority. CPI(M) polit bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, who represents Dharmadam constituency, is the chief minister elect.

The state of Kerala has a unicameral legislature with Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). Like all other states the state has a parliamentary system of governance. The executive authority lies with the council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister. The Governor who is the titular head of the state is elected by the President of India. The High Court in Ernakulam (near Kochi) is headed by a Chief Justice. Below the High Court are district courts, subdivisional courts, munsifs’ (subordinate judicial officers’) courts, and munsif-magistrate courts. The state is divided into districts, which are further divided into talukas (subdivisions) and villages.

The Kerala Legislative Assembly is also called the Niyamasabha, which constitutes 140 elected members and one nominated member from the Anglo Indian community. The state of Kerala came into existence in 1956 by the merging of Malabar region, Cochin, and Travancore on the basis of linguistic preferences. On 5 April 1957 the first legislative assembly was formed in Kerala. Initially, the total number of assembly seats was 127, which was later increased to 140 after the formation of Kasargod and Malappuram districts. The current Chief Minister is Oommen Chandy of the UDF and the leader of opposition is V.S. Achuthanandan from the LDF.