Congress-led UDF Registers Emphatic Victory Across Panchayats, Municipalities And Corporations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led UDF in Kerala scored a big win in the local body polls, with counting taking place across the state on Saturday.

The UDF secured clear victories in corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, and grama panchayats, signalling a desire for change among voters and a significant undercurrent against the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

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.

Of the 14 district panchayats, both the LDF and UDF won seven each. Out of 931 panchayats, the UDF secured 514, the LDF 341, and the NDA 26. Among six corporations, four went to the UDF, and one each to the LDF and 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 election 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 percent 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 Congress, energizing its cadres ahead of the assembly polls.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the LDF will exmine the verdict closely, make requird 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.

This result also underlines the need to continue the fight against all forms of communalism more vigorously.

PM Modi hails Thiruvananthapuram victory

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation victory is seen as a big achievement for the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, thanking Thiruvananthapuram and calling the BJP-NDA mandate there a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics.

Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi celebrated the UDF’s win in the Kerala local body polls, 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.”

Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan: Victory of Team UDF

In Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, the Congress faced major setbacks in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. But now we have made a strong comeback.

We have consolidated our base further in Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts.

The UDF has made significant inroads into left-leaning areas. "We worked together as a strong UDF team.

The Congress, which leads the UDF, performed well organizationally. The KPCC implemented organisational changes effectively, with the AICC extending full support and guidance. We managed to reduce rebel issues, and the organisational machinery was energised," he said.

On BJP’s gains, including the historic win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the opposition leader said he had warned the chief minister about the phenomenon.

"Until the last Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to woo the minorities. I told him that such minority appeasement would only strengthen the BJP’s agenda in Kerala. After facing a near rout in Lok Sabha polls, the CPM adopted majority appeasement as a strategy. A similar tactic adopted by the Left in 1987 proved successful. But I cautioned the Left leaders that 2025 is not 1987, and majority and minority appeasement would only end up in benefiting the BJP.

Pinarayi Vijayan made statements against Malappuram district, CPM leaders spoke against Muslim League calling them communal, kept mum on the hate speeches made against minorities by SNDP general secretary Vellapally Natesan.

The BJP had made tall claims, but the results prove that their brand of politics is not acceptable to a vast majority of people.

People have reposed lot of faith on us. We will place an alternative model of governance, administraton and politics beofe he people ahead of Assembly elections next year. We will seek a postive mandate for change.

The UDF is a broad platform of social groups, community groups and not merely a confederation of political parties. We represent all people.

CPM state secretary M V Govindan: No major erosion in our traditional base

M V Govindan expressed confidence in overcoming defeats, noting that they have bounced back strongly from setbacks in the past. He pointed out that the district panchayat results reflect the political sentiment in the state, with the LDF winning seven out of 14, showing its base remains strong. In the 2010 local body polls, the LDF had secured only six district panchayats. Although LDF lagged in corporations and municipalities that year, it made a strong comeback in the assembly elections.

He dismissed claims that the CPM-led LDF had lost its base.

The CPM leader accused the UDF of forming an unholy alliance with the BJP to defeat the LDF. He noted that apart from the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, the BJP failed to make significant inroads across the state. The BJP lost in Pandalam municipality and narrowly held on to Palakkad municipality by just one seat. The LDF secured victory in the ward where the Sabarimala temple is located. He said they would reach out to the people, understand their opinions and needs, correct their mistakes, and move forward with strength.

The LDF sought public support based on the government's welfare measures and development projects. Although the government worked effectively for the people, it failed to secure the required backing. "We will look into into these issues and address the concerns," he said.

Will go back to people: Binoy Viswam, CPI state secretary

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said that each LDF constituent will study the results closely, review the work of the front, and move forward. The UDF-BJP tie-up and their anti-left approach went against the LDF in many places. "We will reach out to the people in the coming days, go to their doorsteps and learn from our mistakes," he said.

On anti-incumbency, he mentioned that all factors will be examined in detail. Despite differences in the front, both CPM and CPI share the same stand on various policies of the Centre including PM Shri. The government had a good track record in development sector and in implementing welfare schemes ensuring the benefits reach the poorest of the poor.

It is just a beginning: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar

The historic win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation shows that people are starting to think beyond the LDF and UDF, seeking a third alternative focused on development. This is just the beginning, the result of Team Development’s hard work. The BJP-NDA’s Vikisatha Keralam agenda has delivered results, and people are giving us a chance to serve them, a challenge we will meet. It marks the defeat of the LDF’s 10-year rule, corruption, and the gold theft at the Sabarimala temple. The Congress faces anti-incumbency this time, but that’s only temporary. In the upcoming assembly elections, voters will choose those who truly work for development.