Kerala local body election results 2025: UDF sweeps corporations, municipalities & panchayats; BJP secures TVM corp

The results of the Kerala local body elections signal a decisive shift in the state’s political landscape, with the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) emerging with a clear upper hand across most tiers of local governance. From corporations and municipalities to block and grama panchayats, the UDF has registered significant gains at the expense of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has struggled to defend several of its traditional strongholds.

The outcomes, widely viewed as a political barometer ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, also underline a limited but notable expansion by the BJP-led NDA, particularly in key urban pockets such as Thiruvananthapuram. Elections were held in Kerala for six corporations, 14 district panchayats, 86 municipalities, 152 block panchayats and 941 grama panchayats in two phases on December 9 and 11.

Corporations
The UDF emerged as the winner in four of the six corporations and reclaimed some of the key cities from the LDF, which had dominated urban centres in 2020. The UDF secured decisive victories in Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kannur, marking significant inroads into long-held Left strongholds, while the BJP-led NDA scored a breakthrough by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Kozhikode remained the lone consolation for the LDF, where it managed to retain control despite a strong challenge from both the UDF and the NDA.

Municipalities
The municipal results point to a clear UDF surge across Kerala, with the front winning 54 of the 86 municipalities and making significant gains in urban and semi-urban areas. The UDF dominated districts such as Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kottayam and parts of Palakkad, while also regaining ground in Pathanamthitta and Idukki. The LDF managed to retain control in several traditional strongholds, including parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode and Kannur, but fell short of its 2020 performance overall. The NDA remained marginal but registered notable wins by retaining Palakkad municipality and securing Tripunithura, while also emerging as a key factor in closely fought councils such as Thodupuzha and Kanhangad.

Grama panchayats
Among the 941 grama panchayats, the UDF has won 504, while the LDF has secured only 341. While the BJP has secured 26, 64 panchayats reported a tie. In the previous elections, the LDF had won 514 grama panchayats, followed by the UDF with 321, the NDA with 19, and independents with 23. A total of 64 panchayats had ended in ties.

District panchayats
Out of the 14 district panchayats, the UDF is leading in eight and the LDF in 6. After the 2020 elections, the LDF controlled 11 district panchayats, while the UDF held three. The latter assumed control of Wayanad district panchayat after drawing lots.

Block panchayats
Block panchayats also saw the UDF securing an upperhand. The front is leading in 81 and the LDF in 63. In the 2020 elections, the LDF won 108 of the 152 block panchayats, and the UDF won 38.

What happens next
The entire election process must be completed by December 18, 2025. The Local Self-Government Department has already issued directions on assuming office.

In local bodies where the term of the governing committee ends on December 20, newly elected members and councillors must take oath and assume charge on December 21. Some local bodies in Malappuram district, where terms end later, have been assigned separate oath-taking dates.

2020 local body election snapshot
In the 2020 local body elections, the LDF secured a sweeping mandate with an overall voter turnout of 76.2 percent, a drop of 1.5 percent from 2015.

LDF
The LDF secured a vote share of 40.2 percent, winning 514 grama panchayats, 108 block panchayats, 11 district panchayats, 43 municipalities and five corporations.

UDF
The UDF recorded a vote share of 37.9 percent and won 321 grama panchayats, 38 block panchayats, three district panchayats, 41 municipalities and one corporation.

NDA
The NDA polled 15 percent of the votes, winning 19 grama panchayats and three municipalities.

In Kasaragod and Wayanad district panchayats, ties between the LDF and UDF were resolved by drawing lots, with Kasaragod going to the LDF and Wayanad to the UDF.