The same suspense that sweeps through the crowd during Kudamattom at Thrissur Pooram—that anticipation of what comes next—now grips the city’s politics. Will there be a change of guard at the Thrissur Corporation in the upcoming local polls?
Thrissur, long dubbed the “glamour Corporation” of Kerala politics, is expected to witness a fierce contest among the Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — each determined to claim control. After delimitation, the Corporation has expanded from 55 to 56 divisions and the Mayor post is reserved for women in the upcoming election.
For the past five years, the LDF held the reins of the Corporation with the backing of Mayor M.K. Varghese, a Congress rebel. In the 2020 elections, the BJP clinched six of the 55 divisions, with the remaining split evenly between the LDF and the UDF with 24 seats each, leaving out one seat. That deadlock turned Mr. Varghese, the lone Independent, into the ultimate kingmaker.
Completed full term
Though he had promised to step down after two years, Mr. Varghese went on to complete full five-year term as the Mayor. Despite unease within the front, the LDF, especially the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], reluctantly allowed him to continue, fearing a collapse of its fragile majority. Even when the Communist Party of India (CPI) demanded his replacement, the CPI(M) stood firm, prioritising stability over internal dissent.
Now, at the end of the tenure, Mr. Varghese has announced that he will neither contest nor campaign for the LDF this time, putting the Left front on the backfoot.
For the LDF, the campaign narrative is anchored in continuity and development. The front is banking on projects worth ₹1,500 crore — achievements that Mr. Varghese claims transformed the city over the past five years. “The city has never seen such growth before. Thrissur entered UNESCO’s global network of Learning Cities. The endless achievements include state-of-the-art infrastructure, development of Sakthan Nagar, and a modern waste management system, ” the Mayor said.
Meanwhile, the UDF, eyeing more than 35 seats, is entering the race with renewed confidence and internal discipline strategies to prevent rebel candidacies.
“The UDF’s roots in Thrissur are deep and strong, and this time, we will come back with a resounding mandate,” declared former Mayor and current Opposition leader Rajan J. Pallan. “Ten years of the LDF misrule have left the city gasping — pothole-ridden roads, erratic water supply, a collapsed waste management system, and punishing taxes. People are tired of excuses; they want real governance back,” he said.
The BJP believes that its brilliant performance in the past Lok Sabha elections — where Union Minister Suresh Gopi made major inroads in the Thrissur divisions — could give it an advantage.
“Mr. Gopi’s performance in the Lok Sabha polls changed the dynamics in Thrissur — he secured a majority in 35 divisions of the Corporation,” said BJP State vice-president K.K. Aneesh Kumar. “We are zeroing in on those pockets of strength. With a three-cornered contest certain, even 27 to 28 seats will be enough for us to take control of the Corporation.”
‘Suresh Gopi effect’
However, political observers believe the much-hyped “Suresh Gopi effect” may not translate into local body gains. Both the UDF and the LDF argue that the actor-turned-Minister’s sheen has already faded and insist that the allegations of ‘vote chori’ were far from baseless. Still, with Mr. Gopi himself spearheading outreach drives under banners like Kalunku Samvadam and SG Coffee Times, the BJP hopes to retain momentum.
The Christian vote continues to play a decisive role in Thrissur’s political landscape. While the UDF still considers it a loyal vote bank, the BJP insists that the equation has changed. Party leaders claim that a growing section of the community now believes the BJP is best positioned to safeguard their interests.
The recent delimitation has stirred fresh political unease across the district. The BJP claims that its traditional strongholds were deliberately carved up, while even the CPI has voiced similar discontent. With the redrawn map altering old equations, every division now stands as a potential battleground.
Published – December 01, 2025 09:43 am IST
