Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan expressed happiness over the UDF’s landslide victory in the local body elections in Kerala, saying the results proved that people had accepted the UDF’s chargesheet against the LDF government.

Addressing the media here on Saturday, Satheesan said the chargesheet was widely discussed by voters, along with the UDF election manifesto.

“The LDF has faced a major setback in these local body polls. In the 2020 elections, the LDF had won more than 500 grama panchayats, but this time the number has come down to 345. Meanwhile, the UDF improved its performance significantly, winning around 500 grama panchayats compared to about 340 in the 2020 polls,” he said.

Satheesan said that while the LDF secured only 68 block panchayats, the UDF won 77.

“In district panchayats, we are likely to win seven or eight, as counting is still underway. In municipalities, the UDF has won 54 seats. In 2020, the LDF ruled five corporations, but this time the UDF has secured power in four corporations,” he added.

He credited the victory to the collective efforts of the UDF, saying every party and worker had contributed to the outcome.

“The UDF is not merely a confederation of political parties but a broad political platform in Kerala. The public verdict in this election has proved that,” Satheesan said.

He said the UDF had improved its vote share compared to the previous local body elections, while the LDF suffered a major defeat even in its traditional strongholds.

“This is the only government that has faced such widespread public anger. The anti-incumbency wave, along with the communal politics of the LDF government, led to its defeat,” he said.

He slammed the CPM for not taking action against two leaders who were arrested in Sabarimala gold scam.

He noted that LDF and NDA failed to win absolute majority in local bodies where they won power.

Satheesan also criticised senior CPM leader MM Mani for his remarks blaming voters for the LDF’s defeat. Mani had said people had betrayed the LDF despite enjoying development projects, including welfare pensions and improved public infrastructure.

Responding to the remarks, Satheesan said public funds had been used for those projects and that they could not be projected as favours to voters.

The Congress leader also announced that the UDF had prepared a detailed roadmap to regain power in the 2026 Assembly elections. He also briefed on UDF’s plans to bring major changes to Kerala’s development and welfare projects.