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The Aam Aadmi Party had fielded candidates in around 380 seats across the state, focusing on over 400 panchayats and four corporations
This tally represents a notable increase for the party, which previously held only one elected ward member in the entire state. File pic
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) achieved a significant milestone in Kerala’s political landscape on Saturday by securing three seats in the fiercely contested local body elections, with all three victories being claimed by women candidates. This result, while modest in the overall context of the state’s 23,576 wards that went to polls, marks a crucial moment for the national party as it seeks to establish a firm base in the politically bipolar state.
The three successful candidates for the AAP are:
- Beena Kurian (Karimkunnam Ward 13)
- Sini Antony (Mullenkolly Ward 16)
- Smitha Luke (Uzhavoor Ward 4)
These victories are particularly significant because they demonstrate the party’s ability to break through the deeply entrenched dominance of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) in localised areas. AAP had fielded candidates in around 380 seats across the state, focusing on over 400 panchayats and four corporations as part of a strategy to build a strong foundation for the upcoming assembly elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also secured a historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections, ending the four-decade-long dominance of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state capital.
Observers say that all three AAP seats were won by women candidates, highlighting the party’s emphasis on greater female representation at the grassroots level. It also resonates with AAP’s governance model, which often prioritises issues like education, health, and local infrastructure—areas where women representatives are often seen as driving effective change.
This tally represents a notable increase for the party, which previously held only one elected ward member in the entire state—Beena Kurian from Karinkunnam panchayat (who successfully defended her seat). AAP State President Vinod Mathew Wilson had earlier expressed confidence in a quantum leap, noting the party’s volunteer base in districts like Idukki, Kottayam, and Kozhikode. The party leadership views these wins as a clear indication that Kerala’s voters are slowly but surely ready to accept an alternative to the traditional political fronts, seeing the AAP’s anti-corruption and development-focused philosophy as a viable option for local governance. The result will serve as a launchpad for the party’s expanded political ambitions in the state.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 13, 2025, 23:05 IST
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