Kerala local body polls: BJP-led NDA’s footprint expands in Alappuzha district

Signalling a steady expansion of its footprint, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) posted a modest but notable improvement in Alappuzha district in the Kerala local body elections, increasing its ward tally to 240 from 181 in 2020 and registering gains in long-held Left strongholds such as Punnapra and Neelamperoor.

Of the 240 wards, the BJP won 235 seats, including independents backed by the party, while its ally Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) secured five. The NDA emerged as the single largest bloc in four grama panchayats – Budhanoor (seven seats), Karthikappally (six), Neelamperoor (seven) and Thiruvanvandoor (five). In Chennithala-Thripperuthura and Ala grama panchayats, the NDA tied for first place with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), winning seven and five seats respectively.

At the grama panchayat level, the NDA increased its tally to 197 wards from 146 in 2020. It finished second in Chettikulangara (eight seats), Kodamthuruth (six), Mavelikara Thekkekara (five), Mulakuzha (six), Panavally (four), Pandanad (three), Perumbalam (two), Punnapra North (six), Punnapra South (four – tied with the LDF), Mannar (five – tied with the UDF) and Krishnapuram (five – tied with LDF).

In the 2020 polls, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]-led LDF captured Punnapra South, Punnapra North and Neelamperoor grama panchayats by winning 10, 13, and six seats respectively. This time, the BJP doubled its tally in Punnapra South from two to four, while the LDF’s strength declined sharply. The UDF secured a clear majority there with 11 wards. Though the LDF retained Punnapra North with 10 seats, the BJP improved its tally from two to six. In Neelamperoor, the LDF slipped to second position with four seats.

Many seats wrested from CPI(M)

Many of the seats gained by the BJP were wrested from the CPI(M). A senior BJP leader attributed the gains to “growing disenchantment” among the CPI(M)’s traditional support base. “While CPI(M) leaders are amassing wealth through corruption, grassroots workers remain marginalised. This has led to a search for alternatives, which benefited the BJP,” he said, adding that the Congress too faced a similar erosion of trust.

He said the party had not only retained several of its sitting seats but had also identified wards with winning potential well in advance and undertaken focused groundwork, a strategy he described as “successful.”

CPI(M) rejects claims

The CPI(M), however, dismissed the BJP’s claims. “Our support base remains intact. In places like Punnapra, the BJP won seats largely through personal and family connections rather than political support,” a party leader said.

In municipalities, the NDA won 35 wards across six urban bodies, up from 31 in 2020. It secured eight seats in Mavelikara, seven in Chengannur, six in Haripad, five each in Alappuzha and Kayamkulam, and four in Cherthala. Compared to 2020 elections, the front increased its tally in Alappuzha, Cherthala, Haripad and Kayamkulam. Though it won one seat fewer each in Mavelikara and Chengannur, the NDA finished second in both municipalities this time.

At the block panchayat level, the NDA doubled its tally from four to eight seats across 12 blocks. Though it failed to win any seat in the Alappuzha district panchayat, it finished runner-up in three divisions.

Notably, while the NDA had emerged as the single largest bloc in four grama panchayats in 2020, it could not assume power in three after rival fronts joined hands, and lost control of one local body later due to internal strife.