Counting of votes for the high-stakes Kerala local body elections, widely seen as a semi-final ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for April–May 2026, began at 8 am on Saturday.
As counting progressed, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged with an upper hand across both rural and urban local bodies. The UDF has taken the lead over the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in corporations, municipalities, grama panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats.
In a major breakthrough for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party is heading towards a majority in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. As of 12:45 pm, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was leading in 49 seats in the 101-member council, while the LDF was ahead in 27 seats and the UDF in 20 seats. Two independent candidates have won, while trends in three seats are yet to be declared.
While the UDF is leading in four of the six municipal corporations, the LDF’s lead is confined to Kozhikode Corporation. The NDA is leading in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The UDF is ahead in Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kannur corporations.
The results indicate a clear resurgence of the UDF across the state, from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, while the NDA has emerged as a significant force. According to the latest Election Commission figures, the UDF is leading in 441 of the 941 grama panchayats, while the LDF is ahead in 372. The UDF is leading in 80 block panchayats compared to the LDF’s 63. District panchayat results are tied at 7–7.
Notably, the UDF has reclaimed many local bodies that were swept by the LDF in the previous elections.