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 came to power for the first time, it had secured 24 seats.
Though it fell short of a majority by two seats, the BJP being the party with the maximum number of councillors will continue to rule the municipality, as the UDF secured only 17 seats and the LDF eight. There Independents, including a UDF rebel, also emerged victorious.
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.
Seats won by BJP
The BJP won the 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.
The UDF won the 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.
The LDF won the Valiyapadam, Parakunnam, Vadakumuri, Civil Station, Murikavu, West Yakara, Yakara Central and the Othungode wards, while Independents claimed the Vithunni, Pallipuram and Olavakode South wards.
Major wins
BJP State treasurer E. Krishnadas defeated UDF’s 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 the Murukani ward by 87 votes. In 2020, Mr. Bhavadas had won as a UDF rebel.
The Congress is lamenting the loss of several potential seats as well as key leaders, including Mr. Bhavadas and P.V. Rajesh. In the Koppam ward, Mr. Rajesh was defeated by BJP’s M. Sasikumar by 54 votes. A former municipal chairman, Mr. Rajesh’s seniority and experience were considered by the the Congress while fielding him.
The UDF cadres feel that allegations of sexual abuse against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil negatively impacted the party’s prospects in the municipality. Many neutral voters were reportedly swayed away from the UDF due to the controversy surrounding the MLA. Moreover, several Congress workers believe that if he had worked with them while maintaining a clean image, the UDF could have achieved better results in the municipality.
Published – December 13, 2025 08:14 pm IST
