UDF Surges Ahead in Kerala Local Body Polls, BJP Clinches Victory in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

Rohit Kumar

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Causing major setback to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Kerala local body polls on Saturday delivered a tale of two contrasting political currents with the Congress-led UDF emerging as the dominant force across the state, consolidating its hold over a majority of panchayats and municipalities, while the BJP-led NDA scripted a historic breakthrough winning the municipal corporation of the capital city Thiruvananthapuram, with the elections to the state. Assembly round the corner.

The NDA victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation marked the end of 45 uninterrupted years of Left (LDF) control, making it one of the most significant political upsets in recent Kerala electoral history. LDF, however, won the four municipalities in Thiruvananthapuram.

As the counting of votes in the local body elections still on, by 7 pm, the UDF had won or was leading in 504 of 941 Gram Panchayats, 79 of 152 Block Panchayats, seven of 14 District Panchayats, 54 of 87 Municipalities and four of six Corporations, according to State Election Commission Kerala.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has scripted a decisive win in the 2025 Kerala local body polls even as the LDF suffered a setback. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) made a historic win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where it secured its first-ever win. This is seen as a major boost to the UDF ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, with the LDF’s last-ditch effort to woo voters through various welfare schemes apparently failed to cut ice.

In the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50 wards, falling just one short of an absolute majority but way ahead of the LDF which has claimed 29 seats, and the UDF 19 with two independents. Beyond Thiruvananthapuram, the NDA also retained Palakkad municipality after a tight contest and wrested Thrippunithura from the UDF, while making steady gains in Thrissur district.

Upbeat by its victory in Kerala local body polls, the Congress on Saturday expressed confidence that the UDF would receive a similar mandate in the upcoming assembly elections, asserting that many “red fortresses” will collapse in the coming times. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the state unit would campaign with a full “sense of responsibility and united purpose” in the state polls slated to be held in a few months, while Rahul Gandhi noted that the verdict showed that Kerala wanted accountable governance.

While Congress leaders thanked the people of Kerala for giving the UDF a “decisive” mandate, MP Shashi Tharoor also congratulated the BJP for its “historic performance” in the city corporation of his Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured three seats in gram panchayats in the Kerala local body elections, with all three seats won by women candidates. Ex-mayor and MCD AAP councilor Dr Shelly Oberoi congratulated the winners, calling the victory a strong example of women’s empowerment in action. Kerala has total 941 Gram Panchayat, 152 Block Panchayats, 14 District Panchayats, 87 Municipalities, and six Corporations.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Thiruvananthapuram voters for NDA’s historic victory, marking a significant shift in Kerala’s political landscape. Taking to

“Thank you Thiruvananthapuram! The mandate the BJP-NDA got in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics. The people are certain that the development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our Party. Our Party will work towards this vibrant city’s growth and boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people,” he wrote.

“My gratitude to all hardworking BJP Karyakartas who have worked among the people… Today is a day to recall the work and struggles of generations of Karyakartas in Kerala, who worked at the grassroots, which ensured today’s result became a reality,” he added.

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the mandate showed it was “game over for the Left.” “Our vision is ‘Vikasita Keralam’ (developed Kerala). The Kerala unit of the BJP is on a clear growth trajectory. Look at our performance across the State and our vote share. We had targeted a 25 per cent vote share, and we are confident of crossing at least 20 per cent,” he said. The BJP also retained control of the Palakkad municipality for a third consecutive term and delivered another setback to LDF in the Tripunithura municipality by winning 21 wards against the ruling coalition’s 20.

The All India Congress Committee general secretary, Organisation, KC Venugopal, attributed the UDF’s good showing in the local body polls to the government’s “dismissive attitude” towards the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple gold theft, Opposition unity, and anti-incumbency. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Mr Venugopal said the LDF had crumbled across the State, and the government could not “proceed an inch forward.” He said the people had rebuffed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s attempt on election day to cast Congress as a party of reprobates.

Congratulating the Congress and the UDF for the victory in Thiruvananthapuram, the local Congress MP Shashi Tharoor – who has been criticized by his party members for actions that they say point to a pro-BJP and pro-Modi stance – also congratulated the BJP for its victory in Thiruvananthapuram and said it indicated a change in the political landscape.

“A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020,” Tharoor said in a post on X.

“I also want to acknowledge the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city Corporation – a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital’s political landscape. I campaigned for a change from 45 years of LDF misrule, but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance,” he wrote.

And, in a statement that may ruffle a few feathers in the Congress again, he added, “That is the beauty of democracy. The people’s verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency.”

The LDF, which has been in power in the state since 2016 and ruled a majority of local bodies for a decade, faced a setback just as it launched its campaign to seek a third consecutive term in the upcoming Assembly polls. The LDF got an edge in seven of 14 district panchayats. In the 2020 local body polls, however, the ruling alliance had won 11 district panchayats.

From its traditional vote banks looking for alternatives to its failures to counter the Congress and the BJP’s narratives around scandals, the Left has found itself on the back foot now due to various reasons. Among the issues that seemed to have worked against the Left, mainly in central and southern Kerala where the CPI(M) has had a strong Hindu vote base, is the alleged gold theft from the Sabarimala temple, a case in which one senior party leader has been arrested. Both the Congress and the BJP had played up the scandal during the local body election campaign.