Kerala Local Body Polls: BJP storms Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, topples decades of Left rule in the capital city

Thiruvananthapuram: For the first time in its long political history, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won control of the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Kerala’s largest civic body and the political nerve centre of the state capital. The landmark verdict marks the end of decades of Left Democratic Front (LDF) dominance in the century-old corporation and signals a major realignment in Kerala’s urban political landscape.

As results were declared on December 13, BJP workers and leaders across the capital city celebrated what they described as a “historic mandate”. The party’s victory in Thiruvananthapuram, traditionally seen as a stronghold of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is being viewed as a crucial breakthrough for the BJP in a state where it has long struggled to convert vote share into decisive electoral power.

The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation has a total of 101 divisions. Elections were held in 100 divisions, with counting for two seats still underway at the time of reporting. However, the overall outcome has already placed the BJP firmly in the lead, making its control of the civic body a foregone conclusion. According to the results declared so far, the BJP has secured 50 divisions, emerging as the single largest party. The LDF, led by the CPM, has won 29 divisions, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has managed 19 divisions. Even if the remaining results marginally alter individual tallies, they are unlikely to change the overall balance of power in the corporation.

Significantly, the BJP has made deep inroads into areas long considered CPM bastions. Among the most symbolic victories is the division that houses the AKG Centre, the nerve centre of the CPM state committee. The BJP’s win in this area has been widely interpreted as a clear indication of shifting political currents within the capital city. The party has improved its performance substantially compared to the previous corporation elections, when it had won 34 divisions. This time, the BJP has not only increased its tally but has also captured several seats that were earlier held by the LDF, underlining its growing appeal among urban voters. Political observers see the Thiruvananthapuram result as more than just a municipal victory. As the capital city and an influential urban centre, the corporation’s verdict is being read as a straw in the wind ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April next year. The outcome suggests growing voter discontent with both the ruling Left Front and the opposition Congress-led UDF, creating space for the BJP to position itself as a viable alternative.

For the LDF, the loss is a major setback, particularly in a city where the Left has historically exercised strong organisational and ideological influence. For the UDF, the results underline its continuing struggle to regain lost ground in urban Kerala. With its first-ever control of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP has created a new political milestone in Kerala, one that could reshape electoral calculations in the state in the months to come.