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The key questions are: Will the LDF be able to repeat its strong performance? Can the UDF regain lost ground? And will the NDA increase its seat tally?
NDA, LDF and UDF are getting ready for Kerala local body elections. (Image: PTI)
The local body elections in Kerala, which take place about six months before the state assembly elections, are often seen as a “semi-final.” In the 2020 local body elections, the LDF registered a resounding victory, winning five of the six corporations, 11 of the 14 district panchayats, 108 block panchayats, 514 gram panchayats, and 43 municipalities. In the subsequent assembly elections, the LDF created history by securing a consecutive second term in power.
Elections to 1,199 of the 1,200 local bodies are scheduled for December 9 and 11.
The key questions now are: Will the LDF be able to repeat its strong performance? Can the UDF regain lost ground? And will the NDA increase its seat tally and finally win control of a corporation?
The 2020 local body elections were held during the COVID-19 pandemic. The LDF government’s efforts at the time — including the distribution of food kits, provision of cooked meals, enhanced hospital facilities, and the support of local bodies and youth volunteers — significantly contributed to its massive victory. The situation today, however, is quite different. The UDF hopes to capitalise on anti-incumbency sentiments, believing that voters are seeking change. The opposition is framing this election as a referendum on the nine-and-a-half years of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government.
For all three major fronts — the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP-led NDA — these local body polls are a major test. For the LDF, the challenge lies in maintaining its dominance ahead of the next assembly elections.
For the UDF, which is aiming for a comeback, a strong showing in these elections is crucial. The Congress-led front must sustain its momentum following victories in the Lok Sabha elections and recent bypolls.
For the BJP-led NDA, the focus will be on improving its seat tally from last time and strengthening its presence before the assembly elections. This will also be the first electoral test since former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took over as the BJP’s state president — a litmus test for his new leadership.
Among the six corporations in Kerala, the BJP has high hopes for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where it is currently in the opposition with 34 members in the 101-ward council. The party aims to wrest control of the corporation, which has been governed by the LDF for decades.
Initially, the contest in Thiruvananthapuram was seen primarily as a battle between the LDF and the BJP, with the UDF reduced to just 10 members in the last local body elections.
However, the Congress has sprung a surprise this time. Contrary to previous elections, the party announced the majority of its candidates even before the State Election Commission declared the poll dates. It has fielded former MLA KS Sabarinadhan, a young face, as its mayoral candidate, and included several youngsters in the candidate list.
What stood out this time, especially in the selection of candidates for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, was the Congress’s ability to finalise its list without major disputes or rebel nominations. This has rejuvenated party workers and made both the opponents and the public take the Congress more seriously in the capital.
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan is leading the election work in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The Congress and the UDF are, by and large, presenting a united front in their campaign for the local body polls.
The Congress is banking on anti-incumbency against the state government and hopes that the various allegations, including those related to corruption, will resonate with voters.
For the BJP, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation remains its best bet for a breakthrough. The party has fielded prominent candidates such as former DGP R Sreelekha, Arjuna awardee Padmini Thomas, and several senior leaders. The BJP is campaigning on a development plank — ‘Vikasitha Keralam’ — the slogan popularised by new state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, urging voters to see the BJP as an alternative to both the Left and the Congress, which have governed the state alternately.
The BJP has been gradually increasing its vote share over the years, but to demonstrate tangible growth, it needs to win more seats and take control of local bodies. A stronger performance in these elections would give the party a major boost ahead of the assembly polls next year.
However, the task is not easy. To win the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP needs 51 seats — up from its current 34. The party is also dealing with internal infighting, with dissatisfaction over recent candidate selections. The death of BJP councillor K. Anilkumar by suicide, allegedly linked to issues in a cooperative society he managed, has further caused discontent within party ranks.
The LDF, on the other hand, is banking on its development initiatives and social welfare schemes to secure another big win. In Thiruvananthapuram, it has once again fielded a mix of young and experienced candidates. Aiming for a third consecutive term in the state, the LDF is working hard to set a positive narrative. The government is highlighting its infrastructure push, development projects, and welfare measures. Ahead of the elections, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a series of welfare schemes, including a women’s safety initiative providing Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to women aged 35–60, and an increase in social welfare pensions from Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000 per month.
With ward delimitation carried out across the state, predicting results has become even more challenging.
Kerala has traditionally voted differently in local body, assembly, and Lok Sabha elections. In local polls, local issues often outweigh state-wide political considerations. This time too, all three fronts — LDF, UDF, and NDA — are battling to prove their strength and set the tone for the political contests ahead.
Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported on floods …Read More
Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported on floods … Read More
Thiruvananthapuram, India, India
November 12, 2025, 14:39 IST
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