UDF gains upper hand in Kerala local body polls

Thiruvananthapuram: Vote counting for the 2025 Kerala local body elections began at 8 a.m. on Saturday across the State, with ballots being tallied at 244 counting centres under strict security arrangements.

Early trends showed the Congress-led UDF emerging with a clear advantage in both rural and urban local bodies. The Front was reported to be well ahead of the LDF in grama panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats as counting progressed.

In what was described as the BJP’s biggest success in the local body elections, the NDA secured a comfortable majority in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. By noon, the alliance was leading in more than 45 seats in the 101-member council.

The results were seen as a major setback for the LDF, which witnessed a sharp decline in its tally, losing about half the seats it had held in the previous term. While Left ministers had projected a win of around 75 seats, the Front was restricted to just 23 seats in the corporation, TNIE reported.

One of the few positives for the LDF was the lead taken by its candidate Ajin S. L. in the Thrikkannapuram ward, where the death of a BJP worker by suicide had drawn attention during the campaign.

The UDF also improved its position in the corporation, adding six seats compared to the previous term.

As of 10.20 a.m., candidates of the UDF were leading or had already secured victories in most divisions of the Kollam Corporation. In the Shakthikulangara Harbour Division, UDF candidate Xavier Mathias was ahead by 1,880 votes, while NDA candidate Shiji won the Shakthikulangara Division with a margin of 1,385 votes.

The UDF recorded decisive wins in the Meenathuchery and Kavanad divisions. B. Deepu Gangadharan won Meenathuchery by 2,166 votes and Radhika Saji secured Kavanad with a margin of 1,732 votes. The Vallikkeezhu Division, however, went to the LDF, with Vidya Manoj winning by 1,459 votes.

In Kureepuzha West, LDF candidate A. M. Mustafa was leading by 2,291 votes, while in the Kureepuzha Division, UDF candidate B. Ajith Kumar was ahead by 2,284 votes. The Neeravil Division was won by LDF candidate Mahesh R., who secured a margin of 1,751 votes.

The Left Democratic Front and its ally KC(M) suffered a major setback in Kottayam district. According to results available till 11.30 a.m., the LDF was set to lose control of the district panchayat as well as most gram panchayats, block panchayats and municipalities.

In the 2020 local body elections, the LDF had won the district panchayat, a majority of gram and block panchayats, and three of the six municipalities in the district. In contrast, the 2025 elections saw the UDF make significant gains, regaining control of the Kottayam district panchayat, all six municipalities, and a majority of gram and block panchayats.

The Congress-led UDF was reported to be heading for a decisive comeback in the Thrissur Corporation, leading in 34 of the 56 divisions. The LDF, which had been in power in the corporation for two consecutive terms, was trailing with leads in just 11 divisions, while the NDA was ahead in eight.

The UDF’s strong performance was attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the LDF’s development initiatives, which were said to have failed to make a lasting impact on the electorate.

In Alappuzha district too, counting trends indicated a strong resurgence for the UDF, which overtook the ruling LDF and marked a clear reversal of the 2020 outcome. In the previous local body elections, the LDF had dominated the district by winning more than 50 gram panchayats, while the municipalities were evenly split between the two Fronts. This time, however, the UDF was reported to have made major gains in gram panchayats and secured victories in five of the six municipalities.

The IUML-led UDF further consolidated its hold over Malappuram district, registering an emphatic victory across most local bodies. According to Election Commission figures available by 1 p.m., the UDF had won 88 of the 94 gram panchayats. The Front also emerged victorious in all block panchayats except Ponnani, where the contest remained tied at the time of reporting.

The UDF was also said to have swept the urban local bodies in the district, winning all 11 municipalities, including major centres such as Nilambur and Perinthalmanna. The LDF was reported to be leading only in the Ponnani municipality. A notable shift was seen in Perinthalmanna, where the UDF returned to power after nearly 30 years.