Kerala: NDA’s victory in Munambam, political message from the public on the seat at the center of Waqf Board controversy

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has registered a decisive victory in the local body elections in Munambam in Ernakulam district of Kerala. This is the same ward which has been in the news for the last several years due to the land dispute related to Kerala Waqf Board, continuous protests and court battles. Around 500 Christian families were reportedly fearing eviction due to Waqf’s claim on their land.

This victory of NDA in Munambam is being considered politically important, because this ward was with Congress in the last elections. BJP’s Kerala General Secretary Anoop Antony Joseph termed it a historic victory. “The Modi government and the BJP stood with the people of Munambam in the fight against Waqf, and now the people have given their mandate to the BJP,” he said on social media.

This result is considered to be a morale boost for the BJP ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, especially in a state where the party has been able to build only a limited political base so far. Along with this, BJP is also leading in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, which is considered to be the constituency of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

Munambam has been at the center of controversy since 2019, when the Kerala Waqf Board declared over 404 acres of land as Waqf property. Most of the approximately 500 families living on this land are from the Christian community. The families started protesting, calling the Waqf claims illegal. These families were protesting for more than 400 days under the banner of ‘Munambam Land Conservation Council’.

The protesters allege that following the Waqf Board’s claim, the government stopped collecting land tax from them, raising questions over their ownership status. The main demand of the families has been that their land rights and revenue records be restored.

Initially the affected families had decided to boycott the local body elections. However, he later decided to participate in the election process. The decision, which came at a time when the Kerala High Court did not consider the Munambam land as Waqf property, was seen as a major relief for the protesters. However, this controversy took a new turn when on Friday the Supreme Court stayed the High Court’s decision and ordered to maintain the status quo. Due to this, legal uncertainty remains at present.

NDA’s victory in Munambam is not just being seen as a success in one ward, but also as a public response to the Waqf dispute, concerns of minority communities and issues related to land rights. The final decision of the Supreme Court and the stance of the state government in the coming months will decide the direction in which this dispute moves, but for now the election result of Munambam is being considered an important signal in Kerala politics.

Also read:

Rebellion in America over Trump’s tariffs imposed on India, proposal presented in Congress

Major action against cyber fraud stronghold in Mathura, 42 accused arrested after cordoning off four villages

Thailand bombed Cambodia after Trump’s ‘ceasefire’ claim