In a historic political shift, Kerala has elected its first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party mayor. VV Rajesh will lead the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after the National Democratic Alliance secured victory in the city's civic body elections. This result marks the dramatic end of a 45-year-long uninterrupted rule by the Left Democratic Front in the state capital.
A Watershed Moment in Kerala Politics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the victory as a "watershed moment" in Kerala's political landscape. He thanked the people of Thiruvananthapuram for the mandate, underscoring its significance in a region long dominated by Left and Congress politics. State BJP general secretary Anoop Antony Joseph echoed this sentiment, stating that the city had been treated like "inherited property" under the alternating dominance of the Left and Congress for decades.
The NDA's gains, while selective, were symbolically powerful. Beyond Thiruvananthapuram, the alliance also emerged victorious in the municipalities of Tripunithura and Palakkad, signaling an expanding footprint in urban local bodies across the state.
Mixed Fortunes in Other Civic Bodies
While the BJP celebrated its breakthrough, the United Democratic Front also posted significant wins across Kerala's other major urban centers.
In Kollam corporation, UDF’s AK Hafeez was elected mayor. Kochi saw four-time councillor VK Minimol assume the mayor’s post. Thrissur also went the UDF’s way with Dr Niji Justin elected mayor, though the result was marred by internal dissent after councillor Lali James alleged she was sidelined following bribery by party leaders.
In Kannur, a traditional Left stronghold, the UDF strengthened its position, with P Indira set to take charge as mayor. One of the most remarkable stories emerged from Pala municipality, where 21-year-old Diya Binu Pulikkankandam was elected chairperson with UDF backing, becoming the youngest municipal chairperson in Kerala. Diya, along with her father Binu and uncle Biju, won as Independents before extending support to the UDF. This move ended the Kerala Congress (Mani)’s long-standing dominance in Pala, once considered its unshakable political citadel.
The Left Democratic Front managed to hold its ground in Kozhikode by winning the majority of wards. However, it secured only one of the six corporations overall, a sign of its declining urban influence.
Implications for the 2026 Assembly Elections
As the CPI(M) looks ahead to the 2026 Kerala Assembly election, it does so from a position of growing vulnerability. A strong wave of anti-incumbency and governance fatigue has begun to weigh on the Left after a decade in office.
These fault lines were evident not just in the local body polls but also in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Left struggled at the national level, while the Congress regained momentum in the state and the BJP carved out space in what was long considered a near one-party arena. The parliamentary contests exposed a shrinking national footprint for the Left.
In both the 2019 and 2024 general elections, the CPI(M) won only a handful of Kerala’s 20 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress-led UDF dominated, and the BJP managed to open its account. This contrast has underscored the Left's weakening appeal in national elections, even as it retained power in the state assembly. That control was reaffirmed in 2021, when the LDF secured a decisive Assembly victory, achieving the rare feat of a second consecutive term in Kerala.
The results from Thiruvananthapuram and other local bodies suggest that the political landscape of Kerala is becoming increasingly competitive, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle in 2026.
