The two-month long campaign saw the ruling Congress-led UDF and CPI(M) headed LDF engaging in a fierce battle

The Chandy government had faced the elections under a cloud of charges from bar bribery case to solar scam

Discussions have also begun on finalising ministers in the party, said Vijayan

Achuthanandan's remarks come a day after the party unanimously nominated Pinarayi Vijayan over him for the chief minister's post

Pinarayi Vijayan meets VS in a bid for peace, swearing-in ceremony would be held at the Central stadium on May 25 at 5 pm

Hideaways are hardly new to British homes. Sutton Place, the grand Surrey home of oil magnate John Paul Getty, featured secret passageways disguised as wooden panelling.

Buy into a housing development with shared gardens and you never again have to face the horror of a jungle to be cleared when you return from holiday, says Fred Redwood.

A leading buy-to-let expert has given his views on how to improve the rental market.

Certainly, Mary Duggan, a judge for the RIBA House Of The Year award, believes that the rise of technology is contributing to a waning open-plan trend.

Property website Zoopla has revealed where buyers in England and Wales are getting the biggest discounts on initial asking prices - and the locations where sellers achieve 100%.

According to Strutt & Parker's latest Waterside Survey 43 per cent of participants believed that people living near water are happier than those who don't.

The lure of the green is something golf lovers know only too well: top of househunters' wishlists are a private gate that leads directly to a green and clear views of a famous hole.

The new homeowners will be able to enjoy one of the best views of the London fireworks held annually on New Year's Eve.

The new film of Downton Abbey opened this week and will likely fuel interest in a niche sector of the property market - apartments in grand country houses.

Montrose Gardens in leafy Leatherhead, Surrey, has the most expensive average house price in Britain outside of London, rising from £5.9million to £6.5million in the past year.

Renting out a property as a short-term let or holiday home can be profitable, and a combination of changes to buy-to-let tax and the rise of Airbnb and rivals has made it increasingly popular.

We spent a day with one of the world's top 100 interior designers, Alexander James Interior Design, to learn about its tricks and how they can be incorporated into your own home.

Forget kerb appeal and marble work surfaces in the kitchen. New research shows that the single most important factor for home buyers in 2019 is having fast broadband speeds.

Dick and Angel exclusively reveal their approach to buying a property that needs renovating, and turning it into a successful home and business.

Swansea, South Wales, is the most popular place among house hunters, with Brighton, East Sussex, Margate in Kent, and Torquay, Devon, also featuring in the list.

What makes this huddle of around 100 houses and flats in Goldsmith Street, Norwich, so special - and why might it have implications for the rest of us?

Five of this autumn's most popular interior design trends have been revealed by renovation website Houzz - it includes bold wallpaper prints in the loo.

A new study has taken the value of the average detached house in pricey London and calculated how much can be saved per mile by moving to a cheaper commuter town.

There are steps you take to help sell your home, such as replacing old fixtures and fittings and jazzing up your garden.

The most viewed homes currently for sale on Zoopla have been revealed, with multi-million pound mansions dominating the eccentric list.

Financial pressures often mean that these people cannot afford to get up and leave when they first separate, according to Direct Line.

British designers are creating Seascape - a floating retirement village - where there will be 206 apartments sold on 50-year leases when it launches in 2021

Sometimes, we take all this for granted. But the housing market doesn't. New research has proved how much of a premium properties close to green spaces can command.

House prices will rise 15.3% on average across Britain in the next five years, according to estate agent Savills - including by 24% in the North West.

When The Crown returns for its third season on Sunday, along with the plot line and regal costumes, it's the glimpses of the interiors that'll keep us hooked.

Homes near a first-rate farmers' markets offering local produce are in big demand, and can often command a premium.

It appears having a home complete with a garage and garden top the list of priorities for most home hunters, according to data from property website Zoopla.

Opportunities may seem much more limited with a flat for moving rooms and creating a totally different feel, but this two-bedroom Notting Hill home provides inspiration for what can be achieved.

Crammed into stuffy offices or overcrowded trains at rush hour, the idea of escaping the rat race and starting afresh on an isolated island is a dream for many.

The medieval property was constructed in the early 1200s and is believed to have once been owned by Henry VIII.

According to Pinterest, there has been a 135 per cent increase in searches for DIY Christmas decorations in the past year.

The UK's Ocean City will over the next 12 months celebrate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower.

The explosion of cinema multiplexes, streaming channels and new broadcasters has created unprecedented demand for Britain's booming television and film industry.

The most popular homes for sale this year have been revealed - and taking top spot is a £5m property in Essex with a cheeky secret in the bedroom.

Despite the burden of business rates and the rise of online retailing, some high streets still bustle with Christmas customers.

Drink trolleys are back in fashion with younger homebuyers: we pick three versions for different budgets, ranging in price from £30 to £1,320.

The most popular overseas homes for sale this year have been revealed - and they include the Spanish house where One Direction made their debut performance on The X Factor (pictured centre)

All five of the most unique homes for sale on the property website were picked by the Rightmove team for their stand out features.

The average house price in the North-East - £127,570 - remains about 6 per cent below its level in 2007, before the financial crisis.

The dining table is often overlooked until the last minute, even though it can be where we spend hours not only during the big day, but also throughout the festive period.

Government figures show the average time from a home going on Rightmove to a buyer moving in is 20 weeks, with 30% of deals collapsing.

The only real way to add value to your home is to make it more attractive ready for the traditional spring buying season. Experts say 10 key changes should make quick-fire returns.

Helen Marsh, a partner at law firm Forsters, provides six top tips for avoiding some of the most common pitfalls of buying a leasehold property.

Shop smarter by using seasonal clearances and ex-display lines as a way to pick up longed-for large-outlay items such as beds, sofas and mattresses, as well as designer pieces and one-off accessories.

Moving house can be stressful, but the more knowledge you can accumulate the more you can alleviate the pressure along the way.