Kerala is one of the rare success stories for the Congress party in the last two Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, Kerala was the only state in which the United Progressive Alliance could reach double figures - the Congress won 8 seats, Indian Union Muslim League won two and one seat each went to Kerala Congress (Mani) and NK Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party.

This time, Kerala was the only state where the Congress’ individual tally was in double figures. The party won 15 seats, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, while its allies won four.

Reduced to just 52 seats in the Lok Sabha, the Congress is looking towards Kerala for possible ways in which it can revive at the national stage.