The results of Kerala’s keenly contested and passionately campaigned local body elections indicate a strong comeback of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and further inroads of the BJP-led NDA. The voters in Kerala seem to have rejected the Left Front's claims and unnecessary controversies despite the fact that Pinarayi Vijayan, the unquestioned leader of the state, who was projected as leader similar to Narendra Modi at the Centre came forward with election tactics like declaring the extreme poverty free state and increasing social welfare pensions. His campaign narrative can be said to have added momentum to the atmosphere of Islamophobia raised by the Sangh Parivar. What came out in the form of a stunning victory of UDF all over the state, was the result of the campaign by the UDF, led by opposition leader V.D. Satheesan, highlighting the failures, corruption and nepotism of the Left government, including the Sabarimala gold loot, and calling for an end to the Left rule, which accelerated the anti-government sentiment in Kerala. The BJP's victory in the Thiruvananthapuram municipal elections also in a way points to the changes that will occur in Kerala politics in the near future.
The three fronts faced the local elections as a semi-final for the assembly elections due in a few months. Usually, the issues that come in focus in local elections are those related to local development and the local acceptance of candidates. There is also a practice of voting for local-level performance beyond party politics. But this time, the campaign was mostly dominated by purely political arguments. It was led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the state secretary of the ruling party CPM. Further, rather than highlighting the achievements of the government, the CPM and the Left Front tried to take over the campaign arena by putting a communal stamp on the opposition front. While the Chief Minister and the party secretary were campaigning by communalizing Muslim politics, everyone with foresight pointed out the danger inherent in this.
However, as in the recent by-elections, the CPM and the Left Front tried to add fuel to the anti-Muslim campaign being carried out by hate groups like the Sangh Parivar and CASA (Christian Association & Alliance For Social Action), pinpointing on the Welfare Party and Jamaat-e-Islami. The results also show that the BJP Front gained votes and seats at the expense of the Left Front, which ignored the growing Hindutva racism in Kerala and went on a witch hunt against Muslim politics. On the other hand, the false propaganda carried out by communalizing Muslim political positions also alienated that community from the Left Front. While the party leadership itself nullified the public awareness creation of the narrative that the Left Front is the alternative against Hindutva communalism, on the other hand, the Congress and the UDF were coming out with a firm voice against the politics of hate.
CPM got into a dilemma whether it is on the left or right on the issues of PM Shri and the Labor Codes. The gold theft at Sabarimala Temple exposed why the CPM is using religion, faith and caste. The double standards adopted by the party and the government regarding atrocities against women, which has brought shame to Kerala, have also been exposed. And it is based on such anti-Left sentiments which is a combination of all this that the people cast their verdict. They gave the UDF a bigger victory than it had expected. It is now the front's responsibility to recognize that and live upto it. Recent election results show that the strength of the UDF is teamwork with collective responsibility. While its opponents are trying to create a rift in it, the worms that are destroying the prestige of the party and the front are making that task easier. The more the UDF recognizes this and moves forward with cohesion, the better for itself. With this victory, if the Congress and the front can demonstrate organized teamwork without getting in the way of the hustle and bustle of candidate-seekers ahead of the assembly elections, then the Congress and the front can repeat their victory in the next assembly elections. However, Kerala politics also has examples of a victory achieved just before a poll turning into its unmaking too.
The BJP will continue to work with the enthusiasm gained from its win in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Instead of resisting and realizing that the rise of destructive and disintegrative politics will not be beneficial for Kerala and that if the B team of communal politics tries to make temporary political gains, then the A team will win. If the democratic, secular forces learn this lesson and overhaul its political agenda, Kerala will be able to sustain its unique model.