Kerala local bodies: Congress debunks BJPs Thiruvananthapuram breakthrough as laughable spin
While the BJP claimed a 'breakthrough' in Thiruvananthapuram, Congress debunks this as propaganda, highlighting the NDA's minimal statewide gains and the LDF's comprehensive defeat.
New Delhi: The local body elections in Kerala have painted a vivid picture of the state's political landscape, sending a resounding message of change. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has showcased a stellar performance across nearly every tier of local governance. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) garnered attention with a victory in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, this 'breakthrough' has been met with scathing derision from the Congress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post on X, celebrating the BJP's perceived success, quickly drew a sharp retort from Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal. Dismissing the BJP's narrative as "ridiculous" and a "laughable" media spin.
Venugopal highlighted the stark reality of the final results for the NDA. He pointed out that the NDA failed to secure a single Zila Panchayat or Block Panchayat, remaining confined to just two Municipalities. Projecting a solitary Corporation win as a "breakthrough," he argued, was a misrepresentation of their limited gains.
Venugopal further critiqued the BJP's performance, noting a 5 per cent drop in their vote share compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He contended that the people of Kerala quickly grow disillusioned with the BJP, citing their previous projection of a Thrissur Lok Sabha victory that was subsequently countered by a UDF triumph in the Corporation in the latest polls. In terms of grassroots expansion, the BJP managed only a modest gain of seven Gram Panchayats, increasing their tally from 19 to 26 out of a total of 941.
The true narrative of these elections, according to the Congress, is a "sweeping mandate" for the UDF. Their victories demonstrate a significant surge:
Corporations: Won 4 out of 6, securing an additional 3.
District Panchayats: Claimed 7 out of 14, an increase of 4.
Municipalities: Dominated 54 out of 86, gaining 12 more.
Block Panchayats: Surged to 79, adding a remarkable 39.
Grama Panchayats: Established a strong hold over rural Kerala with 505 wins, an impressive gain of 164.
Moreover, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) also faced a comprehensive rejection from the electorate. Their performance saw a significant collapse across the state:
Grama Panchayats: Lost 239.
Block Panchayats: Declined by 48.
Municipalities: Saw a reduction of 14.
District Panchayats: Fell by 4.
Corporations: Dropped from 5 to just 1.
The Congress leader emphasised that the people of Kerala, from cities to villages, have "voted in unison against the disastrous performance" of the LDF. Even in Thiruvananthapuram, where the NDA claims a "breakthrough," Venugopal highlighted that a broader look at the district outside the Corporation reveals a "complete wipeout" for the BJP, with zero District Panchayats, Municipalities, or Block Panchayats, and a mere six Grama Panchayats.
"No amount of fake propaganda can hide this stark reality," Venugopal declared on X, asserting that this clear "UDF wave" is unmistakable and will be "decisively repeated in the 2026 Assembly election."