BJP scripts history in Kerala capital, ends Left’s 45-year grip on Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

In the high-stakes local body elections, the NDA secured 50 of the 101 wards, putting it in a commanding position to form the next corporation administration. 

The ruling LDF was pushed down to 29 seats, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) managed 19.

Two wards went to Independents, and polling in one ward was cancelled following the death of a candidate last week.

The outcome marks a decisive shift in the political balance of Kerala’s capital city and represents the BJP’s most significant municipal breakthrough in the state to date.

Symbolic win in Shashi Tharoor’s home turf

The result carries added political weight as Thiruvananthapuram district is the parliamentary constituency of senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor. 

The NDA’s surge in the capital underlines the scale of the BJP’s inroads into a region long dominated by the Left and Congress alliances.

Taken together, the Thiruvananthapuram verdict signals a changing urban voter mood, an area where the BJP has historically struggled to convert vote share into institutional control in Kerala.

Tharoor reacts, calls BJP victory ‘historic’

Reacting to the results, Shashi Tharoor described the day as one of “amazing results” for Kerala’s democracy. 

While congratulating the UDF for its broader performance across local bodies, he acknowledged the BJP’s “historic” triumph in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

In a post on X, Tharoor said the verdict reflected the electorate’s desire for change and stressed the importance of respecting the people’s mandate, even when it benefits political rivals.

He praised the UDF’s showing, calling it a strong endorsement ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, and cited hard work, a clear message and anti-incumbency as factors behind the improved performance compared to 2020.

At the same time, Tharoor recognised the BJP’s gains in his constituency, noting that while he had campaigned against decades of LDF governance, voters ultimately rewarded another party promising change.

He said this outcome reflected the essence of democratic choice.

NDA clinches Tripunithura Municipality

The NDA also notched up another key victory by capturing the Tripunithura Municipality in Ernakulam district, dislodging the LDF in a tightly contested race. 

The alliance won 21 seats in the 53-member council, narrowly ahead of the LDF’s 20, while the UDF slipped to third with 12 seats.

This marks the first time the BJP has gained control of the Tripunithura Municipal Council.

An A-grade municipality, Tripunithura had traditionally alternated between the LDF and the UDF, making the NDA’s win a significant departure from past trends.

In the 2020 local body polls, when the council had 49 wards, the CPI(M) had emerged as the largest party. 

The expansion to 53 wards this year coincided with a clear swing in voter preference towards the NDA.

BJP holds on to Palakkad

The NDA further consolidated its urban footprint by retaining control of the Palakkad Municipality. 

The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 25 seats, while the UDF secured 18 and the LDF fell back to nine.

Palakkad continues to stand out as one of the BJP’s strongest municipal strongholds in Kerala.

Turnout and political implications

The Kerala local body elections were conducted in two phases on December 9 and December 11. 

According to the State Election Commission, overall voter turnout stood at 73.69 percent, with participation rising from 70.91 percent in the first phase to 76.08 percent in the second.

The results are expected to influence political strategies ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, with the BJP’s unprecedented urban gains likely to reshape calculations across party lines.