Six assembly by-elections were held on 23 September and 21 October 2019, to the six vacant seats in the Kerala Niyamasabha which consists of 140 constituencies in total.
By-election took place in two phases. The first phase was conducted on 23 September for Pala Constituency.[1]
The remaining 5 assembly constituencies (Manjeshwar, Ernakulam, Aroor, Konni and Vattiyoorkavu) voted to elect their representatives on 21 October.[2]
The counting of votes was conducted on 27 September in Pala and on 24 October in the other five constituencies.
They are a coalition of left-wing political parties in Kerala. It is one of the two major political coalitions in the state, the other being the UDF, both of which has been in power alternatively for the last two decades. After winning a majority of the seats in the Niyamasabha elections, they are currently in power. The coalition consists of CPI(M), CPI and a variety of other smaller parties. LDF fields four CPI(M) candidates, an NCP candidate and an independent to fight in the by-poll.
It is an alliance of central-wing political parties in the state, created by the prominent INC party leader K. Karunakaran in the 1970s. UDF fielded four INC candidates, an IUML candidate and an independent for the vacant constituencies.
The LDF fielded four CPI(M) candidates, an NCP candidate and an independent to win the seats. UDF fielded four INC candidates, an IUML candidate and an independent. NDA fielded six BJP candidates.
The Manorama News and the Mathrubhumi News published their exit poll predictions in the constituencies where the election was held on 21 October 2019. Asianet News had published their exit poll predictions for Pala, where the election was held earlier.
The Kerala Niyamasabha is composed of 141 seats (140 elected and 1 nominated). After the by-elections, the Government of Kerala has the support of 93 members.