Thiruvananthapuram, 13 December (H.S.): The Congress-led United Democratic Front registered an impressive victory in the election held for the Local Self Government Institutions (LSGI) on 9th and 11th of this month, the result of which was announced. But what drew national attention to Kerala is the superb win of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation. For the first time since the formation of the corporation, the BJP-led alliance won 50 out of the 101 wards thereby emerging as the single largest grouping in the House.

The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front had to contend with just one corporation out of the six such bodies in the State. What has to be mentioned specifically is the UDF win at Kollam, which has been considered as a CPI(M) fortress since its elevation as a corporation in 2000. The UDF emerged as the largest grouping in the House by winning 27 out of the 56 wards. The LDF won in 16 wards while the NDA won in 12 seats. The decision of the lone independent member is going to be critical in the coming days.

Out of the six corporations in the State, the UDF won four, leaving just one corporation (Kozhikode) to the LDF. What is noteworthy is that Kannur, a CPI(M) stronghold, has been wrested by the UPA. Though it was widely believed that the BJP would make great strides in Thrissur Corporation, the party finished a poor third behind UPA and LDF. Thrissur shot into national fame when Suresh Gopi of the BJP won the Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 general election. Despite intensive campaigning by Gopi in the corporation election, the final results show that it has not made any impact in the LSGI poll. “This is the result of large-scale vote transfer between the LDF and the UDF in many wards as part of their mission to defeat the NDA,” M T Ramesh, vice president, Kerala BJP, told reporters after the poll results were announced.

The UDF won 54 of the 86 municipalities, while the LDF was relegated to just 28 bodies and the NDA to 2. The NDA lost Pandalam municipality, while it retained its lead in Palakkad as the single largest party. The NDA drew a blank in the poll held to district as the LDF and UPA shared 14 of the total district panchayat. The UDF won 79 of the block panchayats, while the LDF managed to win 63 and the NDA won 26.

The NDA won 26 gram panchayats, while the UDF bagged 504, and the LDF won 341 bodies. What is to be noted is that the NDA couldn’t win even a single seat in any of the 14 District Panchayat. Overall results show that the UDF is on a come back spree while the LDF paid a high price by failing to make any impact in the LSGI. The strong anti-incumbency factor and the gold swindling at the holy shrine of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple, in which many CPI(M) leaders are under the needle of suspicion played big roles in the LDF suffering a shock treatment.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a statement issued by evening said that the victory of NDA in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Poll is a cause of concern. “Communalism and Fascism are raising heads in Kerala, and we will see to it that this is not repeated in future election,” said Vijayan, who chose to stay away from the reason for the CPI(M)’s defeat in his own district in Kannur.

Interestingly, both the CPI(M) and the Congress-led fronts had made tactical and secret understanding with Islamic extremist organisations like the banned Popular Front of India, SDPI, and Jamaat-e-Islami. It was the Muslim League, a communal outfit, which helped the Congress to win in districts like Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikode and Kasaragod,

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Kerala BJP chief, can relax now as the party has wrested power in Thiruvananthapuram and two municipalities. The NDA has also made strides in some of the municipalities and panchayats where the front emerged as second largest grouping.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J P Nadda and a host of party leaders have congratulated the people of Kerala, especially in Thiruvananthapuram, for the wins registered by the party. Next time, when the President, vice-president and Prime Minister land in Thiruvananthapuram, a mayor belonging to the BJP would be waiting with flowers and shawls to receive them.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar also said that the gains made by the NDA are a prelude to the surprising results awaiting Kerala in the election to the assembly to be held early next year.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti