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The local body poll results saw the NDA capture power in the crucial civic agency for the first time
The loss of the capital city corporation is a devastating blow to the LDF, raising serious questions about the perceived invincibility of the Left in its traditional strongholds. (Representational image/PTI)
The political landscape of Kerala experienced a seismic shift on Saturday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 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. The results, announced after the counting of votes polled on December 9, saw the NDA capture power in the crucial civic body for the first time.
The final tally in the 101-ward corporation showed a decisive margin for the NDA, which secured a total of 50 seats, achieving the required majority of 51 seats (with one seat election cancelled). This performance marks a dramatic turnaround for the BJP, which had struggled for years to gain a foothold in the state’s political structure, and a massive setback for the ruling LDF, whose tally was reduced to just 29 wards. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) managed to secure 19 seats, a modest comeback for the principal opposition. Two seats were claimed by Independent candidates.
The significance of the victory was immediately underscored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to social media to express his gratitude. “Thank you Thiruvananthapuram!” PM Modi stated, adding, “The mandate the BJP-NDA got in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics. The people are certain that the development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our Party. Our Party will work towards this vibrant city’s growth and boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people.”
This result in the state’s political capital holds immense importance as a bellwether ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The BJP’s aggressive campaign, led by state unit president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, focused heavily on a development agenda for the city, contrasting with the LDF’s long tenure. The win in the corporation, a major increase from the 34 seats the NDA held in the previous 2020 elections, suggests a consolidation of urban votes in the key constituencies like Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu, and Kazhakkoottam, which fall under the civic body’s jurisdiction.
While the UDF emerged as the overall dominant front across Kerala, reclaiming four of the six corporations and making strong gains in municipalities, the loss of the capital city corporation is a devastating blow to the LDF, raising serious questions about the perceived invincibility of the Left in its traditional strongholds. Conversely, the victory gives the BJP a massive morale boost and a tangible administrative platform to showcase its governance model in Kerala for the first time, establishing a clear narrative of change that it hopes to carry into the upcoming state polls.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 13, 2025, 16:57 IST
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