The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) created history by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation in the 2025 Kerala local body elections. However, beyond this headline-grabbing victory, the overall performance of the BJP in the state presents a mixed picture.
While the party managed to improve its ward tally compared to the previous elections, it struggled to convert these gains into broader control over local bodies across Kerala.
NDA’s Overall Performance Shows Limited Growth
According to Election Commission data, the NDA won 1,919 wards in the 2025 local body polls, up from 1,597 wards in 2020. The alliance also secured a majority in 26 village panchayats, an increase from 19 in the previous elections.
Despite this rise, the BJP’s gains remained scattered. The party fielded the highest number of candidate 19,262 compared to the Congress’ 17,497 and the CPI(M)’s 14,802. Even with this wide contest, the NDA could not translate its increased presence into consistent victories across municipalities and panchayats.
BJP Dominates NDA Wins, Allies Play Minor Role
Almost all NDA victories came from the BJP itself. Out of the 1,919 wards won by the alliance, BJP candidates secured the overwhelming majority. Its key ally, the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), managed to win only five wards, four of them in village panchayats.
This highlights the BJP’s dominance within the alliance but also underlines the limited contribution from its partners in Kerala.
Thiruvananthapuram Remains the Standout Success
Of the 93 corporation wards won by the BJP across Kerala, 50 came from Thiruvananthapuram alone. Apart from this major urban win and modest gains in Tripunithura and Palakkad municipalities, the party failed to secure clear majorities elsewhere.
The BJP did not lead in a single one of the 346 district panchayat wards, a notable concern given that these larger constituencies reflect broader political preferences rather than local factors.
Warning Signs Ahead of Assembly Elections
District panchayat wards play a crucial role in shaping state-level political narratives. The BJP’s weak showing in these wards could affect its prospects in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, except in pockets of urban Thiruvananthapuram.
In Palakkad municipality, where the BJP has been in power for nearly a decade, it won 25 out of 53 wards down from 28 earlier indicating signs of anti-incumbency.
How Other Performed
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged stronger overall, winning 7,816 wards across the state. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) followed closely with 7,454 wards. Among smaller parties, the IUML remained influential with 2,844 ward victories.
The 2025 Kerala local body elections were held in two phases on December 9 and 11, with counting on December 13. The UDF took control of four out of six municipal corporations, while the LDF was reduced to just Kozhikode. The NDA’s Thiruvananthapuram win marked the end of 45 years of Left rule in the corporation.
