Party to examine results in detail: Reports
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary MV Govindan on Monday said the local body election results were not a setback for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.
Speaking at a press conference, he asserted there was no anti-incumbency mood in the state and that the Left Front’s political base was still strong. “We will look into the reasons for the defeat, and our district committees will meet this month to review the outcome,” he said.
The CPM-led LDF faced heavy losses in most grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities, and corporations across the state, though both the LDF and UDF secured seven district panchayats each. Despite the defeat, the LDF leadership is putting up a brave face in view of the forthcoming assembly elections which are scheduled for April 2026.
Govindan accused the UDF and BJP of forming an “unholy alliance” in the polls to defeat the LDF, claimed the BJP made no real gains, and said the LDF would not form any alliance with the Congress in any post-election local body arrangements.
Govindan stated that despite the defeat in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the LDF’s support base in the capital remained intact. He attributed the BJP’s strong performance to a tactical understanding with the UDF, noting that the ruling front lost six wards by a narrow margin. “We will examine the reasons for the loss in Thiruvananthapuram and move forward,” he said.
The CPM leader added that district panchayat vote percentages would show the LDF’s political base is solid, though the drop in votes in central Kerala and Malappuram would be reviewed separately.
He also mentioned the party would investigate the defeat in the Kollam Corporation, traditionally a Left stronghold, where the loss was a major political setback. He emphasized that the government had rolled out several pro-people initiatives, including social welfare schemes and development projects, but said communal forces had united during the elections.
The BJP’s performance is being exaggerated, as they even lost their existing seats in the district panchayats, showing a lack of public support. Govindan mentioned that the LDF had secured a win in Pandalam, linked to the Sabarimala temple. While the CPM leader didn’t dismiss the idea of working with independent winners in various local bodies, he firmly ruled out any alliance with the Congress.
