The counting of votes for the crucial 2025 local body elections in Kerala has thrown up a potential political upheaval, with early trends indicating a massive surge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state capital.
As of 10:11 AM on Saturday, with half the wards counted in the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, the NDA has established a startling lead. The latest trends from 50 out of 101 wards show:
NDA (BJP+): 25
LDF (Left Democratic Front): 15
UDF (Congress-led United Democratic Front): 10
Others: 1
These early numbers, if they hold, signal a dramatic shift in the political landscape of Kerala's capital city, long considered a stronghold of traditional bipolar politics between the LDF and UDF.
The 2025 trends stand in stark contrast to the 2020 local body election results. In the previous poll, the incumbent LDF had secured a comfortable majority with 52 seats, the NDA made significant inroads with 33 seats, and the UDF trailed with 10. The current snapshot suggests a direct erosion of the LDF's base and a consolidation of the NDA's position as a formidable force, potentially pushing it towards a historic first majority in the capital's civic body.
The polling for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was held in the first phase on Tuesday, December 9, witnessing a robust voter turnout of 70.91 per cent. The election was keenly watched as a high-stakes triangular contest, with all three major fronts—LDF, NDA, and UDF—mounting aggressive campaigns. Key issues dominating the civic poll narrative included urban development, waste management, infrastructure projects, and the performance of the state and central governments.
While the early trends from half the wards show a clear lead for the NDA, political analysts caution that the final picture will only emerge as counting progresses for all 101 wards. The key questions now are whether the NDA can sustain this momentum, if the LDF can stage a comeback in the remaining rounds, and what the final seat composition will mean for the mayorality and administration of the corporation.
All eyes remain glued to the counting centers as Kerala awaits the final verdict of this democratic exercise, which has already hinted at a possible rewriting of its political rules.
Results are based on early trends. Final results awaited.
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