With campaigning for the local body elections picking up pace, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are bracing for a high-stakes battle in four districts in south Kerala.
On the political front, the fight in south Kerala is crucial to the three fronts. The LDF sees a strong showing in the southern districts as a springboard towards securing power for the third consecutive time in the Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is leading the NDA, has calibrated its campaign in the local body elections, primarily in Thiruvananthapuram, as another step towards ending the longstanding duopoly of the LDF and the UDF in Kerala.
Shut out of power for two consecutive terms, the Congress reckons the local body elections as an existential political battle. From potholes to hyper-local planning rows, national and provincial politics, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters’ list, are subjects of spirited debate on the stump in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts.
At public meetings and doorstep conversations, UDF and NDA workers have highlighted patients “struggling” for beds and proper medical care, dug-up municipal roads, monsoon flooding, and alleged cutbacks in plan spending for LSGIs, “pending civic works” as vivid illustrations of system failure under the LDF.
Local communities railing against controversial projects, including garbage, slaughter waste, sewage treatment plants, and land acquisition for road expansion, are subjects that evoke fierce debates at the hustings.
The LDF seems keen not to rest on its laurels, including expanding social welfare and housing for homeless people. Close on the heels of the arguably successful extreme poverty eradication programme, the LDF has promised to abolish absolute poverty and focus on social welfare, marching in lockstep with development.
The LDF promises big government in all facets of civic life, including affordable internet connectivity and urban travel, including the proposed Metro in Thiruvananthapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram
The LDF, which had weathered a significant push for power by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020, is facing a similar situation this time around. Although sitting with a comfortable margin of 54 seats in the 100-ward Corporation, against the BJP’s 34 and the UDF‘s 10, the front realises that the thin majorities in many wards are prone to flipping.
Arguably, the three fronts perceive the fight for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as the most prestigious electoral battle in south Kerala. The UDF has shown a will to fight this time by fielding leaders such as former MLA K.S. Sabarinadhan, while the BJP has fielded former DGP R. Sreelekha. The three fronts face a rebel menace to some extent.
Kollam
While the LDF is leaving no stone unturned to maintain its stranglehold on all tiers of local governance in Kollam, the NDA is all geared up to disrupt the traditional bipolar contest in many local bodies. Meanwhile, the UDF will be fighting to recover from a significant setback in the Kollam Corporation, where its tally dropped from 16 to 9 seats in 2020. The election will primarily test the LDF’s ability to defend its longstanding hegemony amid an expanding NDA presence and a struggling UDF.
Kottayam
Several political dynamics are expected to shape the upcoming local body elections in Kottayam. One significant factor is the Catholic Church’s position, which is seeking a political resurgence in Central Travancore and may influence voter preferences in key constituencies.
High-stakes battles are unfolding for Kerala Congress (M), which aims to consolidate its position within the LDF. The party has been allotted around 2,300 seats. Recent policy moves, such as amendments to the Wildlife and Land Assignment Acts, along with the hike in natural rubber support prices, are seen as favourable factors for the LDF.
On the other hand, the UDF is seeking to capitalise on anti-incumbency sentiment against the State government. The party faces a crucial contest led by P.J. Joseph’s Kerala Congress, which traditionally commands a strong vote bank in the plantation belt. Also, the allocation of a seat to the IUML in the Kottayam district panchayat division has drawn attention, adding an extra layer of strategic interest.
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta, home to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, had long been a traditional UDF stronghold until the 2016 Assembly elections. Since then, the Congress-led UDF has been striving to stage a comeback, but the LDF has consistently managed to counter those efforts effectively.
Currently, the LDF holds a significant majority in the district’s local bodies. The UDF has lagged in most contests. In last year’s Lok Sabha elections, however, the UDF secured an overall vote share of 40.01%, followed by the LDF at 32.79%, and the NDA at 25.49%.
Meanwhile, the BJP has made notable gains in the district over the past decade. The CPI(M) has overcome internal grassroots divisions, strengthening its organisational base. One key factor expected to influence the upcoming elections, particularly in certain pockets, is the Sabarimala issue. Pandalam, for example, has been a hotspot for protests related to the Sabarimala gold theft case. Notably, this civic body is only the second in the district to be under BJP rule.
Published – November 20, 2025 09:34 am IST
