BJP wins Sabarimala battlefield Pandalam Municipality, replaces Congress as the main opposition party in various Kerala local bodies

BJP’s increased imprints in Kerala are becoming clearer with the results of the local self-governing body elections indicating a rapid shift in Kerala’s political landscape. The party is leading in 24 Panchayat Samiti, up from 14 it won in 2015. BJP’s victory in the Pandalam Municipality, where the party won 17 out of 33 seats signifies the anger of Ayyappa devotees. Pandalam was the epicentre and the main battleground for the Sabarimala agitation which eventually resulted in the routing of the left front in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Even though the political condition in Kerala was favourable to the Congress party, since the left front faces serious allegations of corruption, Congress party couldn’t project itself as a viable alternative the left. Contrary to this, BJP has become the main opposition party in various panchayat and municipal bodies. The saffron party has also opened its account in several Panchayats in the Muslim-majority Malappuram district. The party has also retained Palakkad Municipality which BJP won for the first time in 2015.

In the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation which witnessed a three-cornered fight between the Left, Congress and BJP, BJP won 35 seats while Congress could win only 10. While the left won a simple majority in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, BJP’s performance will enhance the party’s prospects in the assembly election scheduled to happen in 2021.

Kerala Local Self-governing body election result will further deteriorate faction-ridden Congress party and the focus will eventually be shifted towards BJP to take the stage as the main opposition party in Kerala.