BJP makes history in Kerala, wrests T’puram municipal body from Left

In Kerala civic body election results declared on Saturday, the BJP made history by wresting the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation from the Left and ending its 45-year-old control over the state capital's municipal body.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the development a "watershed moment" in Kerala's politics, with Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor surprising all by congratulating the BJP. "A huge congratulations to the UDF for a truly impressive win across various local bodies. I also want to acknowledge the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation....That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency," Tharoor said even as the Congress hailed the results as a collapse of "red fortresses", "a rejection of BJP's divisive politics" and a sign of things to come in the 2026 Kerala Assembly polls.

Overall, the Congress-led UDF clocked big wins in the Kerala local body elections while the LDF lost its bastions.

The results mirrored a decline of the Left's dominance in the state, with the front losing control in four of the five MCs it held. The LDF lost the Thiruvananthapuram MC to the BJP after a 45-year control and the Kollam corporation to the UDF after 25 years of dominance.

In the Thiruvananthapuram MC, the BJP won 50 of the 101 seats, just one short of the clear majority.

The BJP's win in Thiruvananthapuram means it will have a mayor in the city corporation for the first time. Retired DGP Sreelekha, who won from the Sasthamangalam ward, is the frontrunner for the post.

For the BJP, the results came as a morale booster in the state's bipolar politics dominated by the UDF and the LDF. "Thank you, Thiruvananthapuram! 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," PM Modi said.

In 2024, BJP got its first Lok Sabha MP from the state (Suresh Gopi).

The PM also added that Kerala was fed up with the UDF and the LDF and saw the NDA as the only option for good governance and developed state.

The Congress-led UDF, meanwhile, made gains, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge hailing the win.

The UDF won 54 of the 87 municipalities, four of the six corporations and was ahead in the village, block and district panchayat segments.

Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the results reflected the people's hope for a government that understands their struggles and responds with sincerity.

What Tharoor said

"What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections. A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020.

I also want to acknowledge the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation — a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital's political landscape. I campaigned for a change from 45 years of the LDF misrule, but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance.

That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency."