Kerala local body election results 2025: Analysing BJP-led NDA performance ahead of 2026 assembly polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) performed strongly in the 2025 Kerala local body elections, showing growth after its 2024 Lok Sabha success. The NDA won 1,919 wards across the state, an increase from 1,597 wards in the 2020 local body elections. The results are seen as an encouraging sign for the NDA ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.

The party’s biggest win came in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, where it won 50 out of 101 wards, dealing a setback to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which won 29 wards. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was far behind, winning only 19 wards, while two independent candidates also secured victories. Polling in one ward was postponed after the death of a candidate, according to the Kerala State Election Commission (SEC).

Apart from Thiruvananthapuram, the NDA did well in other key municipalities. In Thrippunithura Municipality, the BJP won 21 wards while the LDF won 20, and the UDF managed 12 wards. The NDA also retained Palakkad Municipality for the third consecutive term, winning 25 wards against the UDF’s 17 wards. In the Thrissur district, the BJP captured 18 wards in Kodungallur Municipality and eight in Thrissur Municipal Corporation. The alliance also won 167 gram panchayats across the state.

This improvement comes after the BJP’s relatively small presence in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the LDF retained power with 99 seats, the UDF won 41 seats, and the BJP failed to win even a single seat in the 140-member house. Despite this, the recent local body election performance demonstrates growing support for the NDA in the state.

Political Implications And Reactions

The NDA’s success has boosted morale ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the results a “watershed moment” in Kerala politics and thanked party workers for their efforts. “Thank you Thiruvananthapuram! The mandate the BJP-NDA got in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics,” he said on social media platform X. He praised the BJP workers for their hard work in connecting with people, which contributed to the party’s strong performance.

BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, who oversees the party’s operations in Kerala, said the results show a change in the state’s political landscape. He highlighted that the NDA is growing and that Prime Minister Modi’s appeal has reached every part of Kerala. Javadekar expressed confidence that the BJP would win multiple Assembly seats in the upcoming 2026 elections.

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The results in Kerala indicate that the BJP-led NDA has been able to make inroads in urban and semi-urban areas, challenging the dominance of the LDF and UDF. Local issues, development promises, and strong ground-level campaigning by BJP workers appear to have contributed to the alliance’s success. Analysts note that the results could signal a shift in voter sentiment, especially in regions where the NDA has historically struggled.

The Thiruvananthapuram victory is particularly significant because it shows the NDA can now compete in Kerala’s political strongholds. By winning nearly half of the wards in the municipal corporation, the BJP has demonstrated organizational strength and voter acceptance. Similar trends in other municipalities, such as Thrippunithura and Palakkad, further underline the NDA’s rising influence.

While the LDF continues to dominate the state Assembly, the NDA’s performance in local elections highlights the potential for future growth. These results could also pressure the LDF and UDF to reassess strategies ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Experts suggest that a combination of strategic campaigning, local development promises, and national-level appeal has helped the NDA improve its position.

The 2025 local body elections in Kerala have shown that political dynamics in the state are evolving. With the NDA making steady gains and challenging the traditional dominance of the LDF and UDF, the 2026 Assembly elections may become a more competitive contest. The BJP’s focus on grassroots-level organization, along with strong leadership and campaigning, has allowed it to gain visibility and voter support in multiple districts.

In conclusion, the Kerala local body election results of 2025 reflect growing momentum for the BJP-led NDA. Strong performances in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrippunithura, Palakkad, and other municipalities indicate a shift in voter preferences. The results are expected to impact the strategies of all major parties ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The NDA’s gains underscore its increasing relevance in Kerala politics and mark a potential turning point in the state’s political trajectory.

These results also emphasize the importance of effective local-level organization, candidate selection, and development-focused campaigning. With the next Assembly elections on the horizon, the BJP and its allies will aim to convert local body election successes into broader electoral gains.