PM: LDF-UDF "fixed match" to end soon in state
Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the people of Kerala, particularly the youth and women, are ready for a new dawn.
In a letter to Thiruvananthapuram’s newly elected BJP Mayor V.V. Rajesh and Deputy Mayor Asha G. Nath, the Prime Minister said the BJP-NDA was increasingly becoming the people’s choice, rooted in inclusive nationalism, development without corruption, and governance without appeasement.
Modi expressed hope that the new civic leadership would draw inspiration from renowned social reformers such as Sree Narayana Guru, Mahatma Ayyankali and Mannathu Padmanabhan. He criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) for what he described as years of poor governance, corruption and political violence, while praising BJP workers for steadfastly advocating people’s aspirations despite challenges.
Describing the political rivalry between the LDF and UDF as a “fixed match” nearing its end, the Prime Minister said the BJP’s vision for a developed Thiruvananthapuram had found resonance across communities. He added that people were recognising the Centre’s efforts in urban development across the country and expressed gratitude to the residents of the city for their warmth and support.
While the BJP’s victory in Thiruvananthapuram, ending the CPM’s four-decade rule in the city corporation, marked a significant political moment, the party’s overall performance in the local body elections remained modest. The BJP-led front’s vote share dropped to 14.76 per cent from 19.26 per cent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Union home minister had set a target of a 25 per cent vote share for the state unit, but the outcome fell short of that goal.
The local body poll results indicate that voters in Kerala continue to view the Congress-led UDF as the principal alternative to the ruling LDF.
