The local body bypolls held after the first 100 days of the Congress-led state government gave a sense of comfort if not absolute joy for the LDF. The LDF had suffered bitter setbacks in the Kerala local body elections 2025 and Assembly polls 2026.

The results of bypolls in 38 wards in 12 districts saw LDF wresting 7 seats from the UDF including two seats which the UDF sitting MLAs had vacated. The UDF was buffeted by sharp decline in majority despite retaining seats.

Of the 38 wards where the elections were held, the LDF won 18, UDF got 19 and Twenty20 retained its seat in Kolenchery East, Ernakulam. Among the winners, 4 candidates officially contested elections as independents. The UDF could retrieve only 4 seats. Before the bypolls, the LDF had 15 seats while the UDF ruled 22 seats. The UDF won 18 seats, the LDF won 16, and independent candidates won four seats.

Party-wise tally:

• UDF – 18: INC – 12, IUML – 4, Kerala Congress – 2
• LDF – 16: CPM – 13, CPI – 3
• NDA- 1: Twenty20 – 1
• Others – 4: Independents – 3 

Position before byelection:

• UDF – 21: INC – 14, IUML – 5, Kerala Congress – 2
• LDF – 13: CPM – 11, CPI – 1, JD(S) – 1
• Others – 4: Independents – 3, Twenty20 – 1

In the district panchayat wards, the LDF won two seats and the UDF won one. Of the seven block panchayat wards where elections were held, the LDF won five, the UDF won one and an independent candidate won one. Of the 23 grama panchayat wards, the LDF won seven, the UDF won 13 and independents won three. In the municipal wards, the LDF won two and the UDF won one. In the two corporation wards, the LDF and UDF won one seat each.

 The bypolls were held after the CPM held an extended state committee meeting and declared a course-correction exercise. It also kicked off extended district committee meetings as part of an organisational revamp. Following the drubbing in the local body and assembly polls, the LDF leadership was largely criticised for alienating the minorities and compromising on secular values.

While the scale of contest cannot be considered as an interim performance appraisal of VD Satheesan, the LDF would take heart from some of the wins across various districts. The UDF's notable dip in majority despite wins in certain wards has also boosted the LDF.

In Thrikodithanam division of Kottayam District Panchayat, Manju Sujith had lost to Vinu Job Kuzhimannil in December 2025. She reversed her fortunes in the bypoll held after Vinu Job was elected as Changanassery MLA. She won by a margin of 2140 votes. At Paruthikavu ward of Chitoor - Thathamangalam municipality, which Sumesh Achuthan vacated to contest Kerala assembly elections 2026, LDF candidate V Thulaseedharan won by toss. Both UDF and LDF candidates won 433 votes each. 

While the UDF managed to hold onto two corporation wards in Kochi and Kozhikode, the margin dropped heavily at Kuttichira ward in Kozhikode city corporation. Fathima Thahiliya had won here in 2025 by a margin of 2273 votes before being elected as the MLA. In the bypoll, the UDF candidate could manage a majority of just 436 votes. 

The LDF made gains in Kannur, Kottayam, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram districts, while the UDF gained ground in Idukki, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta. The UDF suffered a setback in Chirayinkeezhu, where a scuffle involving MLA Ramya Haridas had sparked controversy. The LDF won both Anchuthengu and Mangalapuram wards in the Chirayinkeezhu Assembly constituency, wresting them from the UDF.

The LDF performed strongly in Kannur, winning both wards where bypolls were held. In Bavodu East in Peralassery, part of Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan's Dharmadam constituency, the LDF wrested the ward from the UDF. K V Ratheesh won by 65 votes, compared with the UDF's 13-vote margin in the previous election. In Mattannur Municipality's Uruvachal ward, A K Sureshkumar won by 276 votes. The CPM had won the ward by 269 votes in the previous election.

The LDF also wrested Mundakkal ward in Mangalapuram panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram, from the Congress. LDF candidate Ramya V Thulasi won by 139 votes. The result gives the LDF enough seats to govern the panchayat on its own; it previously ran the 22-member panchayat with the support of a Congress rebel.

CPI state secretary Binoy Vishwam said that the bypolls results reflected public sentiment and political pulse. Meanwhile, CPM state secretary M V Govindan described it as a clear message from the people to the government to correct its course.

Govindan said the LDF had earlier acknowledged its failure to make the expected gains in the 2025 local body elections and the setback it suffered in the Assembly elections.

He said the LDF had increased its vote share not only in the seats it won but also in constituencies where it was defeated.

Govindan said the result indicated that thousands of votes had shifted and should be viewed seriously. “I feel that what the people have done is a precise treatment aimed at guiding the government in the right direction,” he said.

He also stated that the party would continue its efforts to move away from positions that had drawn public criticism and take corrective measures.

Results — Won
(Ward (District) — Political Front)

1. Anchuthengu (Thiruvananthapuram) — LDF
2. Ottor (Thiruvananthapuram) — LDF
3. Thali (Thrissur) — Others
4. Edathirinji (Thrissur) — LDF
5. Hemambikanagar (Palakkad) — LDF
6. Athipotta (Palakkad) — LDF
7. Pallikkal (Wayanad) — UDF
8. Ayyappankavu (Ernakulam) — UDF
9. Kuttichira (Kozhikode) — UDF
10. Thrikodithanam (Kottayam) — LDF
11. Pazhayakada (Thiruvananthapuram) — UDF
12. Mundakkal (Thiruvananthapuram) — LDF
13. Vallokunnu (Pathanamthitta) — UDF
14. Othara (Pathanamthitta) — UDF
15. Block Padi (Pathanamthitta) — UDF
16. Kalleli (Pathanamthitta) — UDF
17. Kumbamthanam (Kottayam) — LDF
18. Cheeramkulam (Kottayam) — UDF
19. Thundanganad (Idukki) — UDF
20. Madaplathuruthu East (Ernakulam) — UDF
21. Kolenchery East (Ernakulam) — Others (NDA)
22. Puliyanam South (Ernakulam) — LDF
23. Kurumala Kizhakkumury (Thrissur) — UDF
24. Aryampaadam (Thrissur) — LDF
25. Ragam Corner (Palakkad) — UDF
26. Vettam (Palakkad) — UDF
27. Parakkattuchalla (Palakkad) — Others
28. Kadannamanna (Malappuram) — Others
29. Moolakkal (Malappuram) — UDF
30. Poongudaya (Malappuram) — UDF
31. Veroor (Malappuram) — LDF
32. Bavodu East (Kannur) — LDF
33. Pilicode (Kasaragod) — LDF
34. Municipal Office (Thrissur) — UDF
35. Paruthikkavu (Palakkad) — LDF
36. Uruvachal (Kannur) — LDF
37. Kallara (Thiruvananthapuram) — UDF
38. Pallassana (Palakkad) — LDF

The bypolls recorded a voter turnout of 58.81%, with 182,160 people casting their votes, including 84,070 men and 98,090 women. Kannur recorded the highest turnout at 84.55%, while Kottayam registered the lowest at 54.24%.