Kozhikode Corporation may offer some consolation to the embattled LDF in the Kerala local body elections, in which the front lost four other corporations it controlled. 
Still, the victory was sort of a humiliation for the LDF in its Malabar bastion, also as, for the first time, it will have to run the council without an absolute majority.

In the 76-division council, the LDF won 34 to emerge as the single largest bloc, but fell four short of a majority. The tally marks a steep slide from the 51 it secured in 2020.
In contrast, the UDF improved its tally from 17 to 26, while the NDA posted its best-ever performance, almost doubling its number from seven to 13. Significantly, most NDA’s gains came from divisions in the heart of the city, making inroads into LDF and UDF strongholds. 
For LDF, a front that once dominated the civic body, the verdict signals a clear erosion of support, compounded by losses in several bastions. 

Both the LDF and the UDF saw their mayoral candidates falling. LDF mayoral nominee and incumbent deputy mayor C P Musafar Ahamed lost to UDF’s S K Aboobecker in Meenchantha (Ward 39) by 271 votes.
UDF mayoral nominee P M Niyas, who is also the Congress’s state general secretary, lost to BJP’s Hareesh Pottangadi at Paroppadi, a long-time Congress bastion.

Youth League’s state secretary Fathima Thahiliya (34), who burst into Kerala’s political landscape as part of IUML’s Haritha women’s wing, registered a thumping win over LDF’s V P Rahiyanath. She won by 2,273 votes. 

A more symbolic blow followed in Pottammal — widely known as the ‘Mayor’s ward’ — which the LDF lost to the NDA. Sitting mayor Dr Beena Philip’s ward was won by NDA candidate T Raneesh, who defeated LDF’s Ankathil Jayakumar by 168 votes. A CPM stronghold for decades, the division had earlier been represented by former mayor A K Premajam (2010–15) and by Beena Philip herself in the previous term.
Reacting to the loss, Beena told Onmanorama that she was deeply saddened and would examine the reasons behind the setback.

Raneesh attributed his victory to what he described as CPM complacency and neglect. Claiming the party had taken the ward for granted, he told Onmanorama that voters backed the NDA’s development-focused pitch. He also alleged that fake videos were circulated in the final phase of campaigning to tarnish the BJP’s image, particularly in Puthiyara and Pottammal.

The outcome stood in sharp contrast to the confidence the LDF projected during the campaign. It brushed aside sustained Opposition attacks over alleged corruption, including the building number scam, issues raised after the Mofussil Bus Stand fire, protests against shifting the traditional Palayam market, and resistance to the proposed modern food street. On the eve of polling, the corporation even released a progress report, drawing allegations of violating the model code of conduct and strong objections from Opposition parties.

When the UDF ran into trouble over its mayoral pick, filmmaker V M Vinu, the LDF treated it as a major advantage and stepped up its campaign, portraying the Opposition as unprepared. Seat-sharing tensions between the Congress and the IUML further raised CPM hopes.
The outcome, however, told a different story. Kozhikode— usually an easy win for the Left—turned into one of the most fiercely contested corporation battles in the state.

NDA’s surge in core city areas
BJP state cell coordinator and former state secretary V K Sajeevan said the NDA’s improved seat share reflected public fatigue with both the LDF and the UDF. Referring to Pottammal, he said the BJP had traditionally finished third there but secured a decisive win this time.
He also cited the Congress bastion Paroppadi, which it wrested by defeating KPCC general secretary Niyas.  “Several NDA wins came from the heart of the city, including Mavoor Road, a newly-created ward following delimitation,” Sajeevan said.

Chalappuram was another significant gain. Sajeevan described it as a ward of deep cultural and historical importance, noting that it had been held by the Congress for over a decade. NDA retained Karaparambu for the third consecutive term. Navya Haridas — the star councillor who took on Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election — won the division with an increased vote share.
Apart from Paroppadi, the NDA also captured Kuthiravattam, a long-time CPM bastion, and Chalappuram, held by the UDF for over a decade.

UDF sees gains, but loses key battles
The UDF campaign started with a hiccup. Its original mayoral candidate, V M Vinu, could not be fielded as his name was missing from the electoral roll. Later, the party fielded Niyas. DCC president Praveen Kumar said the party would investigate Niyas’s defeat. 

Meanwhile, Niyas blamed his loss to the alleged communal campaign by the BJP. He also pointed out that the LDF’s vote share in his division had declined, hinting at a collusion between the LDF and the BJP. He also said uncertainty over Vinu’s candidature hurt campaign momentum and admitted that managing campaign responsibilities alongside his mayoral bid proved difficult.

Key victories across parties
Among notable UDF wins was Kalakkandi Baiju’s victory from Kallayi, a seat initially reserved for V M Vinu. Baiju won by 842 votes against the LDF’s Vineesh Vidhadharan. The UDF also reclaimed sitting seats such as Elathur, Malaparambu, Kinassery, Mankavu, Nadakkavu and Kuttichira, and wrested wards including Meenchantha, Areekad North, Kundayithode, Eranhippalam, West Hill and Payyanakkal from the LDF.

Former Kozhikode deputy collector Anitha Kumari E secured a win for LDF from Mathottam, finishing 462 votes ahead of her nearest rival.