Kerala, 13 ഡിസംബര്‍ (H.S.)

Thiruvananthapuram: The United Democratic Front (UDF) secured an overall victory in the 2025 Kerala Local Body Elections, making significant gains in municipalities and corporations across the state. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a setback, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) made a major breakthrough by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation for the first time. It has also won the Palakkad and Tripunithura municipalities.

The counting of votes for the two-phase elections held on December 9 and 11 ended on December 13, 2025.

NDA's performance

In various local bodies in Kerala, the NDA made significant inroads in urban areas, although the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged as the overall leader in most categories.

Corporations: The NDA won the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, winning 50 of the 101 wards, just one ward short of an absolute majority, becoming the largest single coalition. The UDF won the other four corporations (Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kannur), while the LDF came ahead only in Kozhikode.

Municipalities: The NDA retained the Palakkad Municipality for the third consecutive time and also won the Tripunithura Municipality from the Congress. The UDF won a majority in most municipalities across the state.

Panchayats: The NDA won a majority in a few village panchayats (around 25), but trailed the UDF and LDF in the overall tally across village, block and district panchayats.

The results are being seen as a decisive moment for the BJP in Kerala, a state traditionally dominated by the LDF and UDF.

The victory in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram is being described as a major political shift, with leaders attributing the victory to the party's developed Kerala message and the welfare schemes of the central government.

Top BJP candidates, including former Director General of Police (DGP) R. Sreelekha, won in their wards.

The results are being seen as a precursor to the 2026 assembly elections.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a major setback in the local body elections in Kerala, failing to replicate its 2020 performance, losing to the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

UDF Performance

Corporations: The UDF won four of the six municipal corporations - Kochi, Thrissur, Kollam and Kannur. In the last 2020 elections, the UDF had only one corporation (Kannur).

Municipalities: The UDF won control of about 54 of the 87 municipalities across the state, a significant increase from the previous elections. This included a clean sweep in 11 municipalities in Malappuram district and regaining control of Pala Municipality after a gap of years.

Rural Institutions: The Congress-led alliance also performed well in rural areas, winning more than half the majority in gram panchayats and block panchayats.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a major setback in the local body elections in Kerala, failing to replicate its 2020 performance, losing to both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

LDF Performance

Corporations: The LDF lost control of five of the six corporations it previously held, retaining leadership only in Kozhikode. The most significant defeat was in Thiruvananthapuram, a long-time LDF stronghold, where the NDA won with an absolute majority (50 out of 101 wards). The Kollam Mayor (LDF candidate) also lost his seat.

Panchayats and Municipalities: In 2020, the UDF won a clear majority in the gram panchayats, municipalities and block panchayats where the LDF had previously dominated.

Party, Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat, District Panchayat, Municipality, Corporation

Total, 17337, 2267, 346, 3240, 421

UDF - 7773, 1146, 100, 1458, 187

LDF - 6363, 892, 56, 1100, 125

NDA - 1406, 54, 1, 324, 93

Others - 1266, 48, 1, 323, 15

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Hindusthan Samachar / Roshith K