The United Democratic Front (UDF) is the Indian National Congress-led alliance of centre to centre-right political parties in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the two major political alliances in Kerala, the other being Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front, each of which has been in power alternately since 1980 E. K. Nayanar ministry. Most of the United Democratic Front constituents are members of the Indian National Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at pan-India level.
United Democratic Front was created by the Indian National Congress (then known as Congress-Indira) party leader K. Karunakaran in 1979, as a successor to the existing Congress-led alliance. The alliance first came to power in 1981 (K. Karunakaran ministry) and has won elections to the state legislature of Kerala in the years 1982 (Karunakaran ministry), 1991 (Karunakaran and A. K. Antony ministries), 2001 (Antony and Oommen Chandy ministries), and 2011 (Oommen Chandy ministry). The alliance currently acts as the opposition in the state legislature of Kerala (after the 2021 legislative assembly election). United Democratic Front leaders V. D. Satheesan and K. Sudhakaran currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President respectively.
The alliance currently consists of Indian National Congress, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Jacob), Revolutionary Socialist Party and a variety of other smaller parties. The alliance follows big tent policy and includes a variety political parties.
Current members
Members of United democratic front
History
Antecedents
Precursors to the United Democratic Front were,
Joint Front (Pattom and Sankar ministries) Congress - Praja Socialist Party - Indian Union Muslim League (left 1961) Congress-supported "Mini Front" or "Democratic Front" (Menon ministry) Communist Party of India - Indian Union Muslim League - Kerala Congress - Indian Socialist Party Congress-supported "United Front" "Mini Front" or "Maxi Front" (Second Menon ministry) Congress (from 1971) - Communist Party of India Indian Union Muslim League - Revolutionary Socialist Party - Praja Socialist Party - Kerala Congress (from 1975) "Ruling Front" or "Maxi Front Revamped" (Karunakaran, Antony and P. K. V. ministries) Congress - Communist Party of India - Kerala Congress - Indian Union Muslim League - Revolutionary Socialist Party Indian Union Muslim League - Praja Socialist Party - National Democratic Party alliance (supported by Congress) (Koya ministry)
United Democratic Front (1979 – present)
The United Democratic Front (UDF) was formed just before 1980 assembly election. In elections, the Front was defeated by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front. However, the fall of the first Left Democratic Front ministry resulted in the 6th President's Rule in Kerala (1981).
United Democratic Front first came into power in Kerala in 1981 under K. Karunakaran. It led the Government of Kerala in 1982–87 (K. Karunakaran), 1991–96 (K. Karunakaran and A. K. Antony), 2001–06 (A. K. Antony and Oommen Chandy), and 2011–16 (Oommen Chandy). The alliance currently serves as the opposition in the Kerala Assembly.
In the 2016 elections conducted to the Kerala state legislature, United Democratic Front managed to win 47 out of 140 seats to the assembly, and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala was chosen as the Leader of Opposition. In 2019 Indian general election, the alliance won 19 out of 20 seats in the state. In the last elections conducted to the Kerala state legislature in 2021, United Democratic Front managed to win 40 out of 140 seats to the assembly, and Congress leader V. D. Satheesan chosen as the Leader of Opposition. The alliance supported K. K. Rema for Vadakara Constituency who sits as a separate block.
Chief Ministers
Pre-United Democratic Front Chief Ministers (1956 – 1979) Pattom Thanu Pillai (1960 - 62) R. Sankar (1962 – 64) C. Achutha Menon (1970 - 77) K. Karunakaran (1977) A. K. Antony (1977 – 78) P.K. Vasudevan Nair (1978 - 79) C.H. Mohammed Koya (1979)
United Democratic Front Chief Ministers (1981 – present)
List of United Democratic Front Chief Ministers by length of term
Leaders of Opposition (U. D. F)
K. Karunakaran (1980–81, 87 - 91) A. K. Antony (1996 - 2001) Oommen Chandy (2006–11) Ramesh Chennithala (2016–21) V. D. Satheesan (2021–present)