The decisive victory of the Congress-led UDF in the local body elections from Kasargod to Malappuram changed the picture of North Kerala, the strongholds of the Left Front collapsed.
That day may remain in the political memory of Kerala for a long time. That day the familiar colors changed across Kerala. In many districts, instead of red, blue and green colors prevailed. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) shattered the Left’s longtime strongholds in the north. This change gave a clear message about the political atmosphere of the state. The data released by the Election Commission of the 2025 local body elections held in two phases in the state showed this change in the mood of the people. The Congress-led UDF led with 38.81 per cent votes, while the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) stood second with 33.45 per cent votes. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) got 14.71 percent votes, while the remaining 13.03 percent votes were divided between other parties and independent candidates.
UDF took lead at all levels of local bodies. Dominated the elections in Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations. The UDF won 8,021 gram panchayat wards, 1,241 block panchayat wards, 196 district panchayat wards, as well as 1,458 municipality wards and 187 corporation seats.
The results were more disappointing for LDF. However, LDF was successful in winning 6,584 gram panchayat wards, 928 block panchayat wards, 148 district panchayat wards, 1,103 municipality wards and 126 corporation wards. Meanwhile, the BJP-led NDF made its presence felt by winning 1,448 gram panchayat wards, 54 block panchayat wards, one district panchayat ward, 324 municipality wards and 93 corporation wards.
UDF got a total of 82,37,385 votes. 39.17 percent support in Panchayats (65,96,415 votes), 38.85 percent in Municipalities (10,84,901), 34.59 percent in Corporations (5,56,069). The LDF got 70,99,175 votes, including 34.02 per cent (57,29,020) in panchayats, 29.88 per cent (8,34,427) in municipalities and 33.67 per cent (5,35,728) in corporations.
The UDF retained control of the Kasaragod Municipal Council, largely thanks to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which won 24 out of 39 wards in the local body elections. IUML candidates also won in the district panchayat divisions of Civil Station, Kumbla, Manjeshwaram and Chengla.
The pattern was clear in the entire district. The UDF remained dominant in Kasargod Municipality, with the NDA coming second and the Left Front reduced to just one seat. LDF got a strong hold in Neeleshwaram, while in Kanhangad there was a 20-20 tie between UDF and LDF.
Of the 24 UDF seats in Kasaragod Municipality, 23 belong to IUML, which shows its decisive role. The NDA dropped to 12 from 14 seats in the previous council, while the LDF marginally improved its current position by one to two seats. Since its inception, Kasaragod Municipality has been mostly in UDF hands, losing power to the LDF only twice. One of the most decisive victories for the UDF was Kerala’s northernmost seat, Manjeshwaram assembly constituency, where they captured all eight panchayats, block panchayats and all four district divisions. The special thing is that in 2021, BJP State President K. Surendran had contested the elections from Manjeshwaram, but he had lost.
In the nine municipalities and corporations of Kannur district, the balance was slightly tilted towards the Left Front. LDF was ahead in five, while UDF won four. LDF dominated in Antur, winning all 29 wards. Of the 34 wards in Iritty, the Left Front won 16 seats, followed by the UDF with 13 seats, while the NDA got four and others one seat, leaving no single front able to secure a majority of 18 seats.
In Wayanad, UDF expressed its political intentions by sweeping the local body elections. The party won the district panchayat, all four block panchayats and two out of three municipalities in the district. Of the 23 gram panchayats, 16 went in favor of the UDF, while six went to the LDF. The only seat in the Kalpetta Municipality district came as a relief for the LDF. The result of the District Panchayat was decisive. In 16 divisions, UDF got 15 seats and LDF got only two seats.
LDF got some relief in Kozhikode also. Yet in this victory there was the pain of defeat. For the first time, LDF will have to work there without absolute majority. Whereas Malabar has been considered its stronghold for a long time.
The UDF put up its strongest performance so far in Malappuram district. It decisively defeated the LDF in municipalities, gram panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats. UDF changed the entire map in Malappuram. The situation is such that for the first time Malappuram District Panchayat will work without any opposition. UDF has got all the 33 seats here. The UDF has won 11 of the 12 municipalities and 87 of the 94 gram panchayats along with 15 of the block panchayats in the district.14 have won.
Nilambur Municipality was captured by LDF in 2020, but this time this municipality has been captured again by UDF. UDF won 26 wards, while the Left won six wards. Four wards have gone to others’ accounts. This wave of change was brought by P.V. It started only after Anwar resigned from the post of MLA. A change in the political wave could be seen after LDF’s defeat in the assembly by-election held after his resignation.
Perinthalmanna slipped from LDF control after three decades. In the 37-member council, the UDF won 15 seats, the LDF got 14, while independents won the remaining eight seats, most of which were with the UDF.
Reasons for UDF’s victory
This change tells the story of disillusionment with the government. Kundara MLA P.C. Vishnunath says that the Sabarimala issue left a deep impression in Malabar. Although this temple is in South Kerala, Hindus were angered by allegations of theft of gold from the temple during the tenure of LDF.
After the Lok Sabha elections, uneasiness increased in the Muslim community as well. “The chief minister’s comments on Malappuram heightened fears of secession. Critics accused the CPI(M) of moving towards liberal Hindutva and trying to unify Hindus at the cost of its traditional secular image,” says Vishnunath.
Disillusionment with the Left leadership is widespread in North Kerala. As Kishore Congress state president Majush Mathew pointed out, the Chief Minister’s frequent association with SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, despite his inflammatory comments about Muslims, has irked large sections of the society. Natesan’s warning of Muslims becoming the dominant population of Kerala caused outrage, leading the Muslim League to dub him the ‘Kerala Togadia’.
Mathew says, “Discontent was deep in the hilly areas, where threats to wildlife have added to the misery of everyday life. The administration’s perceived apathy and its opposition to local efforts turned even once-supportive Christian communities against the Left.”
Then came the moment which many locals call ‘Shafi Asr’. The echo of Kerala Police’s attack on Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil in Perambra, Kozhikode was heard everywhere. Shafi was a victim of police lathicharge. “People clearly saw it as an attack by the state government,” said Prince M., a school teacher from Koorachundu in Kozhikode district. The UDF victories in Vadakara, Perambra, Nadapuram and Kuttiady reflected that silent but decisive response.
