The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained control of the Palakkad municipality for a third consecutive term by securing 25 of the 53 seats in the municipal council.
The BJP secured 25 seats despite facing its biggest ever internal feud. In the outgoing council, the party held 28 seats, while in 2015, when it first came to power, it had secured 24 seats.
Though it fell short of a majority by two seats, the BJP will continue to rule the municipality, as the UDF secured only 17 seats and the LDF eight. There are three independent winners, one of whom is a UDF rebel.
Any possibility of the LDF supporting the UDF, or the UDF accepting LDF backing to dislodge the BJP in Palakkad, appears highly unlikely, as the two fronts are arch rivals and such an arrangement would contradict their stated political positions.
BJP won Ayyapuram West, Kalpathy East, Thonippalayam, Kumarapuram, Mattumantha, Murukani, Puthur South, Puthur North, Sekharipuram, Ayyapuram East, Manappullikkavu, Koppam, Sulthanpetta, Mankavu, Kaikuthuparamba, Pattikkara, Vadakkanthara East, Selvapalayam, Kunnathurmedu South, Sreeramapalayam, Melamuri, Meparamba, Karnaginagar West, Vadakkanthara, and Jainamedu wards.
UDF won Olavakode Central, Kalpathy, Kunnumpuram, Kallepulli North, Kallepulli South, Narikuthi, Kunnathurmedu North, Chierakkadu, Kenathuparamba, Poolakkad, Vennakkara South, Vennakkara Central, Thirunellayi East, Thirunellayi West, Kallikkadu, Kottamaidanam, and Nurani wards.
Independents won Vithunni, Pallipuram and Olavakode South wards.
BJP State treasurer E. Krishnadas defeated UDF candidate Vinod Pattikkara by 415 votes in the Pattikkara ward. Mr. Krishnadas, a former BJP Palakkad district president and the vice chairperson of the outgoing municipal council, is being portrayed as a strong contender for the municipal chairperson’s post.
BJP district secretary P. Smithesh defeated Congress leader K. Bhavadas in Murukani ward by 87 votes. In 2020, Mr. Bhavadas had won as a UDF rebel. Mr. Smithesh is one of the prominent leaders of the BJP.
Published – December 13, 2025 02:29 pm IST
