Kerala local body polls: LDF holds the ground outside Thrissur city, retains grip on panchayats and municipalities

Even as Thrissur Corporation swung decisively in favour of the United Democratic Front (UDF), the larger political map of the district continued to tilt towards the Left Democratic Front (LDF), underscoring a clear urban–rural divide in the local body election verdict.

The LDF retained control of the Thrissur district panchayat, which has 30 divisions, leading in 21 seats while the UDF led in nine. The result ensured the continuation of the Left rule at the apex tier of local governance in the district even as the UDF improved its position.

A similar trend played out in the municipalities. Of the seven municipalities in the district, the LDF emerged ahead in five — Guruvayur, Chavakkad, Wadakkancherry, Kunnamkulam and Kodungallur — while the UDF retained its hold over Irinjalakuda and Chalakudy. This largely mirrors the 2020 civic poll pattern. Despite aggressive claims by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of gaining the upper hand in Kodungallur and Irinjalakuda, the front failed to convert that momentum into a majority in either municipality.

At the block panchayat level, the LDF led in 10 of the 16 blocks, the UDF in five, while one block ended in a tie. In the grama panchayats, the LDF maintained its edge, leading in 44 of the 86 panchayats. The UDF led in 34, the NDA managed a lead in just one, while seven panchayats witnessed a tie.

Better performance

The broader picture shows that while the city voted for change, the district at large remained aligned with the Left. However, the UDF has improved its position in the three-tier panchayats. In the 2020 local body elections, the LDF had turned Thrissur into a near fortress, winning 69 grama panchayats, 13 block panchayats, 24 of 29 district panchayat divisions, and five municipalities — a sweep that set a high benchmark.

Thrissur District Congress Committee president Joseph Tajet said the mandate received across local bodies would energise the UDF ahead of the coming Assembly elections.

“Nine years of the LDF rule at the State level and a decade-long stint in the district has alienated people. Centralisation of power in local bodies, fund constraints, treasury controls, price rise, pension delays, wildlife attacks, agrarian distress, and political violence were issues we consistently raised. The electorate recognised the struggles waged by the UDF councillors over the last 10 years,” Mr. Tajet said, adding that organisational unity and popular candidate selection also played a key role in the party’s performance.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] district secretary K. V. Abdul Khader said the defeat in the Corporation would be subjected to a detailed review. However, he underlined that the LDF’s base in the district remained strong. “The Left has delivered a strong performance in other local bodies. We won five of the seven municipalities, retained the district panchayat, secured victories in 10 block panchayats and 44 grama panchayats,” Mr. Khader said.

LDF would move forward with greater strength by taking up people’s issues and functioning as a responsible opposition in the Thrissur Corporation, he said.