Kerala Local Body Polls: Congress, BJP Gain as CPI-M Suffers Major Setback Under CM Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram — As counting in Kerala’s local body elections crossed the halfway mark, the ruling CPI-M, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, appeared headed for an unprecedented setback, suffering heavy losses even in its traditional strongholds.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged as the main gainers, with notable advances, particularly in the state capital and the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Across major corporations, the CPI-M faced significant reverses, with impending defeats in Kozhikode, Kollam, and Kozhikode corporations coming as a major shock. Historically, the party has managed to retain control over its bastions in local body elections, even during adverse political phases, especially in panchayat governance. This time, however, that trend appears to have shifted decisively.

In gram panchayats, the UDF was leading in 371, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was ahead in only 355, indicating a clear erosion of the CPI-M’s rural base.

The situation was even more challenging for the CPI-M in urban local bodies. Of the state’s six corporations, the Congress was leading in four, while the CPI-M was ahead in just one. In the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation — governed by the CPI-M for several years — the party was trailing behind the BJP, highlighting the scale of the setback.

A similar pattern was visible in municipalities, where the Congress was leading in 51, compared to the LDF’s lead in only 32.

The CPI-M entered the polls after announcing measures such as an increase in welfare pensions. However, unlike in the past, these initiatives did not appear to translate into electoral gains, despite the party having secured a consecutive term at the state level.

Political observers believe that controversies such as the Sabarimala gold smuggling case have significantly dented the party’s support base. Gains achieved with considerable effort in previous years, including in urban centres, now appear to have unravelled.

Party leaders are expected to undertake serious introspection to explain the scale of the losses, which mark one of the most severe challenges faced by the CPI-M in local body elections in recent years.

With inputs from IANS