Ernakulam, Kerala: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken charge of Tripunithura municipality for the first time, with Adv. P.L. Babu elected chairperson by a narrow three-vote margin. Babu secured 21 votes in the two-round election, officially taking oath following the vote count.

The election was conducted in two rounds after the 53-member municipality returned a hung verdict. In the final round, Babu polled 21 votes, defeating LDF candidate KT Akhiladas, who received 18 votes. Two votes CPM vice-chairperson candidate Bindu Shailendran and O.K. Hariharan—were declared invalid.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) holds 20 seats, while the BJP-led NDA has 21. The United Democratic Front (UDF) secured 12 seats. Earlier, both Akhiladas and C.A. Shaji of the UDF contested the first round, matching the vote share of their respective blocs. With no candidate reaching the simple majority of 27 votes, a second round became necessary, in which the UDF abstained.

Vice-chairperson and councillor details

Radhika Varma was elected vice-chairperson later in the afternoon. Representing the Ambalam ward, she is a three-time councillor and a member of the BJP State Council. Babu, from the Valiyathara ward, serves as general secretary of the BJP central zone and is serving his second term as councillor.

Historical context and BJP’s growth

Tripunithura has traditionally been an LDF stronghold. The Left has ruled the municipality for 40 years, with the UDF holding office for the remaining five. Had the LDF and UDF allied, they could have blocked the BJP’s rise, but both parties chose to contest the elections separately.

The BJP’s growth in the municipality has been rapid. From a single seat in 2010, it rose to 13 seats in 2015, dislodging the UDF as the principal Opposition. By 2020, the tally increased to 15, with two more added through mid-term by-elections, culminating in its historic victory this week.