Congress Front Wins Kerala Local Poll, BJP Takes Capital

Thiruvananthapuram: In a big boost ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, the Congress-led UDF on Saturday secured a decisive victory in Kerala's local body elections, dealing a blow to the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF. The BJP made history by emerging as the single largest party in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, setting the stage for the city’s first BJP mayor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the mandate in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation as a "watershed moment" in the state politics.

The UDF scored a big win in the local body polls, securing a majority of gram panchayats, municipalities, corporations, block panchayats and seven district panchayats.

The UDF secured an emphatic win across rural and urban areas, signalling a desire for change among voters and a significant undercurrent against the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

The BJP victory in the Kerala capital marked the end of the LDF’s 45-year reign in the corporation.

The local body election results echoed at the national level, with the Prime Minister hailing the BJP's victory in Thiruvananthapuram city corporation.

“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,” Mr Modi tweeted soon after the results were declared.

The Prime Minister termed the BJP-NDA mandate in Thiruvananthapuram a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi celebrated the UDF’s win, saying, “A big salute to the people of Kerala for trusting the UDF in these elections. This is a decisive and uplifting mandate. The results clearly show growing confidence in the UDF and signal a possible sweep in the upcoming Assembly election. The message is loud and clear: Kerala wants governance that listens, responds, and delivers.”

With the Congress being out of power for nearly 10 years in Kerala, this victory has definitely boosted the morale of the workers ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state in April next year.

Of the 14 district panchayats, both the LDF and the UDF won seven each. Out of 941 panchayats, the UDF secured 505, the LDF 341 and the NDA could raise its tally from 19 to 26.

Among six corporations, four went to the UDF, and one each to the LDF and the BJP. In municipalities, the UDF claimed a decisive win with 54 seats, while the LDF took 28 and the NDA 2. In block panchayats, the UDF won 79 and the LDF 63.

The corporation elections are seen as a semifinal before the 2026 Assembly polls. Political observers often note that the front gaining the upper hand in local body polls usually goes on to win the Assembly elections. By that measure, the UDF heads into the crucial polls with plenty of confidence. They scored a historic victory in the Kollam corporation, a CPM stronghold.

Except for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, the BJP fell short of expectations across the state, even losing the Pandalam municipality.

The local body elections win holds political significance for the Congress-led front. The back-to-back victories of the CPM-led LDF in the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections, along with the BJP’s rise—securing nearly 20 per cent of the vote share in the last Lok Sabha polls—had heavily impacted cadre morale. Even though the UDF bagged 18 of the 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the outcome was largely driven by national issues and the "Rahul Gandhi factor". This local body triumph has therefore served as a major morale booster for the Congress, energising its cadres ahead of the Assembly polls.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the LDF will examine the verdict closely, make the required changes and move forward. He said the LDF fell short of expectations in the local body elections, and the reasons behind this will be thoroughly examined so that necessary changes can be made.

"The NDA’s win in Thiruvananthapuram, along with the role of communalism in the campaign, is a concern for those who value secularism. This outcome serves as a reminder that people must stay alert to avoid being misled by the harmful propaganda and manipulative tactics of communal forces," Mr Vijayan said, adding, "This result also underlines the need to continue the fight against all forms of communalism more vigorously."