The counting of votes for Kerala’s 1,199 local bodies commenced this morning, revealing early trends of a significant political shift that is closely watched as a semi-final ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.1 The results show a split verdict between the state’s political fronts, with the opposition UDF (United Democratic Front) staging a decisive comeback in urban centers.
Early Trends: UDF Dominates Cities, LDF Holds Rural Strongholds
Initial trends across the state indicate a clear geographical division in voter sentiment:
- Corporations and Municipalities (Urban Areas): The Congress-led UDF has established a strong lead, dominating the majority of municipalities and pulling ahead in key corporations.2
- Corporations: The UDF is currently leading in four of the six corporations, including Kochi, Thrissur, Kannur, and Kollam, marking a significant improvement from the previous local body polls.3 Reports suggest the UDF is poised to reclaim power in Thrissur and Kochi Corporations after a decade.4
- Municipalities: The UDF is currently ahead in a comfortable majority of the 86 municipalities (leading in 51 as of the latest update), while the ruling LDF (Left Democratic Front) is trailing behind.5
- Panchayats (Rural Areas): The ruling CPI(M)-led LDF is showing resilience, currently leading in a higher number of Grama and Block Panchayats.6 However, the UDF is giving a tough fight across all three tiers of the panchayat system.
BJP-led NDA Emerges as Major Contender in Capital
A significant development is the performance of the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance), particularly in the capital.7
- Thiruvananthapuram Corporation: Early trends show the NDA emerging as the single largest party, leading in 28 wards, while the LDF has fallen behind.8 This closely watched contest confirms the BJP’s growing political footprint in key urban areas of the state.
High Stakes and Record Turnout
The outcome of these local body polls is considered crucial as it will shape the strategy and political momentum for the 2026 Assembly elections.9 Previous local body results in 2010 and 2015 often signaled voter mood changes against the ruling front.
This year’s election saw the highest voter turnout since the first civic polls in 1995, with overall participation standing at 10$73.69 \text{ per cent}$ across the two phases of polling.11
The counting process, which began at 8 am, is being carried out at 244 counting centers.12 The oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected local body members is scheduled for December 21st.13