BJP makes history in Kerala, wrests Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from CPI(M)
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has made history in the Kerala local body polls. The NDA has emerged as the single largest party in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ending a 45-year rule of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The NDA won 50 out of 101 wards while the LDF was reduced to 29 seats, India Today reported.
Election results
Congress-led UDF , independents win seats in Thiruvananthapuram
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 seats in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Two seats were won by Independents, and one ward's polling was canceled due to a candidate's death last week. The results are politically significant as Thiruvananthapuram district is the constituency of senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor.
Political shift
Tharoor acknowledges BJP's historic victory in Thiruvananthapuram
Tharoor congratulated the UDF for its performance and acknowledged the BJP's "historic" victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. He said, "What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections." He added that despite campaigning for change from the LDF, voters chose another party seeking governance change. "I campaigned for a change from 45 years of LDF misrule, but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance," he said.
Other victories
NDA also wins Tripunithura Municipality, retains Palakkad
In another major victory, the NDA won control of the Tripunithura Municipality. The NDA won 21 out of 53 seats, while the LDF got 20 and the UDF got 12. This is the first time the BJP has taken control of the Tripunithura Municipal Council. Meanwhile, in Palakkad Municipality, NDA retained its hold with 25 seats, while UDF got 18 and LDF nine.
Election details
Kerala local body elections see high voter turnout
The Kerala local body elections were held in two phases on December 9 and December 11. The overall voter turnout was 73.69%, with the first phase recording a turnout of 70.91% and the second phase witnessing a higher turnout of 76.08%. These results are likely to influence political alignments ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections in 2026, with the BJP's urban victories expected to be closely analyzed across party lines.