Elections become due in Kerala with the United Democratic Front (UDF) Ministry completing its term in May 2006. The polling is being held in three phases in April and May

There has been no major change in the composition of the ruling and Opposition fronts in the State after the last elections. However, nine Congress MLAs resigned and formed a new party, Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran), under the leadership of K. Karunakaran and his son K. Muraleedharan. The party, which had an understanding with the LDF for the local body elections, came back to the UDF fold for the present elections.

The RSP faction in the UDF split with Minister Babu Divakaran forming RSP (Marxist) party. The other MLA of the party Shibu Baby John is with the UDF, but not formally in the RSP (Marxist). The parent organisation Revolutionary Socialist Party (Bolshevik) led by A. V. Thamarakshan, which has only nominal presence in these elections, is opposed to the UDF.

The LDF is continuing its alliance with the Indian National League. The Kerala Congress led by P. J. Joseph has split. The splinter group is led by P. C. George. Both groups continue in the LDF. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) declared unilateral support for LDF this time. The BJP and its minor allies are fielding candidates in most of the 140 constituencies.