Kerala local body polls: Shifting urban currents pose challenge to LDF’s dominance in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram is bracing for a high-stakes showdown at the upcoming local body elections, as all major political coalitions view the contest as a strategic prelude to next year’s Assembly polls.

For the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which now commands an overwhelming dominance from the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and district panchayat to all four municipalities, 10 of the 11 block panchayats, and 52 of the 73 grama panchayats, the stakes are particularly high. Yet, despite this formidable presence, the CPI(M)-led front faces a more competitive political landscape than in 2020, particularly in urban areas where the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sense renewed opportunities.

Youth and experience

Nowhere is the battle more intense than in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, traditionally the district’s most prestigious civic body. The LDF, which fended off a vigorous BJP surge in 2020, faces an equally charged fight this time. Though it now enjoys a comfortable majority by holding 54 of the 100 wards (101 after delimitation) against the NDA’s 34 and the UDF’s 10, the front is aware that many of its wins came from razor-thin margins. With several wards susceptible to swings, the LDF has fielded a mix of young candidates and seasoned heavyweights in an all-out effort to protect its urban bastion.

The UDF enters the fray more assertive than in previous elections. By fielding prominent figures such as former MLA K.S. Sabarinadhan, the Congress-led alliance has signalled its intent to reclaim lost ground. The BJP too has brought in high-profile candidates including former senior police officer R. Sreelekha. However, the party’s campaign has been overshadowed by internal turmoil following the suicides of two local leaders, including a sitting councillor who blamed the party leadership for his plight.

In district panchayat

In the district panchayat, the LDF aims to consolidate its sweeping victory of 2020, when it secured 20 of the 26 divisions. Notably, the coalition had improved its tally by one division, despite a high-voltage campaign by the Opposition parties. The UDF won the remaining divisions, while the BJP lost its lone seat in Venganoor. Both Opposition fronts are hoping to put up a stronger challenge to dislodge the LDF’s dominance in the district panchayat, which it has won consistently, except in 2010 when the UDF had a narrow win.

Among the municipalities, Nedumangad remains a Left fortress, having stayed with the LDF for over three decades. The others (Varkala, Attingal, and Neyyattinkara), however, are likely to witness unpredictable three-cornered contests. Despite the LDF having retained power in all four municipalities, the BJP’s notable gains in 2020 have made it difficult to predict the electoral outcomes in these local bodies.

In the rural belt, the LDF hopes to maintain its edge over the UDF and NDA in block and grama panchayats. Both Opposition fronts have intensified their campaigns around development lapses and local issues. The UDF, which won 18 grama panchayats in 2020, believes it can cross 30 this time, while the NDA seeks to expand its footprint beyond the two panchayats it currently governs.