Thrissur, Kerala: In a surprising turn of events, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged victorious in the Thrissur Corporation, winning 33 seats. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 13 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed 8 seats, leaving both alliances far behind the UDF.

Among Thrissur’s urban municipalities, the UDF managed to hold onto only Chalakudy and Irinjalakuda. The remaining five municipalities, Kunnamkulam, Kodungallur, Chavakkad, Guruvayur, and Wadakkanchery, were dominated by the LDF, with the NDA emerging as the principal opposition in Kodungallur.

At the district panchayat level, the LDF outperformed the UDF, winning 21 seats compared to the UDF’s 9, demonstrating a mixed political landscape across urban and rural areas.

Congress leaders said the outcome reflects the success of an early and aggressive campaign, launched well ahead of rivals. The Congress finalised and announced its candidates for the Thrissur Corporation before the CPM and the BJP, giving priority to new faces and grassroots-level mobilisation. The party leadership was keenly aware of the cost of organisational complacency in the 2020 local body elections, when the UDF failed to convert opportunities into victories.

Several senior Congress and UDF leaders registered notable wins. Youth Congress district president Harish Mohan secured a convincing victory in the Kuttanellur division, winning by a margin of more than 500 votes. KPCC Secretary A Prasad, Thiruvambady Devaswom Secretary K Girishkumar, and former Deputy Mayor Subi Babu also emerged victorious. However, the defeat of KPCC Secretary John Daniel in the Patturaikkal division came as a setback for the UDF camp. The loss of the Kannankulangara division to the BJP was another disappointment.

For the LDF, the results marked a significant reversal. The defeat of novelist Lissy Joy, projected by the Left as its mayoral candidate, was a major blow. Contesting from the Lalur division, she conceded defeat early in the counting without mounting a serious challenge. The loss of former Mayor Ajitha Jayarajan in Kokkalai, where NDA candidate Vinshi Arunkumar won, further dented the Left’s prospects.

In the previous election, the LDF had returned to power after a dramatic finish, with the final tally standing at LDF 24, UDF 23, NDA six and one Congress rebel out of 54 divisions. The Left formed the council, then, with the support of the Congress, rebelled.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, had hoped to make significant gains in Thrissur following its performance in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the results suggest those expectations were not met. Despite a high-profile campaign and the introduction of new candidates, the BJP’s performance remained modest, with only the possibility of adding one or two seats to the six it won last time. The much-discussed Suresh Gopi factor did not translate into a decisive electoral advantage.

In comparison, in the 2015 Thrissur Corporation elections, the LDF had won 25 divisions and formed the council with the support of two independents, while the UDF secured 22 divisions.

The latest trends underline a decisive swing towards the UDF in Thrissur Corporation, reshaping the political landscape of the city in the Kerala local body elections 2025.