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New Delhi: Delivering a big setback to the Left front, the BJP-led NDA clinched the Thiruvananthapuram civic body, marking its first-ever victory in a municipal corporation. The NDA's win will end Left front's dominance in the municipal corporation, which it held for 45 years.
According to the State Election Commission (SEC), the BJP-led NDA was much ahead of the ruling LDF and Opposition UDF in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation. The BJP was the main Opposition in Thiruvananthapuram civic body, which had been ruled by the LDF for over four decades. If the BJP wins, it will be its first-ever victory in a municipal corporation in the state.
Besides the state capital, the NDA is ahead in the Palakkad municipality and leading in many Left strongholds.
PM Modi congratulates BJP on Thiruvananthapuram win
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP workers and said that the mandate the 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 said in a post on X.
Praising BJP workers for ensuring a "spectacular result" in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, he said, "My gratitude to all hardworking BJP Karyakartas who have worked among the people, which has ensured a spectacular result in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. 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. Our Karyakartas are our strength and we are proud of them!"
CPI(M)-led LDF fails to cut ice, big boost to Congress-led UDF
Meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF is on course to register a thumping victory in Kerala's local body elections, which is being seen as a litmus test ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in the state. LDF's last-ditch effort to woo voters through various welfare schemes appeared to fall flat as counting trends and results of the local body polls indicated a significant shift in public opinion towards the UDF.
According to the SEC trends, the UDF appeared poised to wrest control of three corporations-- Kollam, Thrissur and Kochi -- from the LDF and retain the Kannur corporation. The Left front held Kollam and Thrissur corporations for 25 and 10 years, respectively.
In the Kozhikode corporation, a neck-and-neck contest is underway between the LDF and the UDF, with the Left front in the lead.
Kerala local body polls a litmus test for 2026 Assembly polls
The counting of votes for the 1,199 local bodies in Kerala is underway. The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week. The results are expected to help the political parties and fronts in the state to decide the future course of campaigning for the next year's Assembly elections in Kerala. The oath taking of elected panchayat members and municipal councillors and corporation members will be held on December 21.
