Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 13 (LatestNewsX) – As counting of votes in Kerala’s local body polls passed the halfway point, the CPI‑M, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is facing an unprecedented hit, suffering heavy losses even in its usual strongholds.
The Congress‑led UDF and the BJP‑led NDA have collectively captured the majority of the gains, with the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation—once a CPI‑M stronghold—shifting decisively away from the party.
The party now faces serious setbacks across several municipal corporations, with notable defeats in Kozhikode and Kollam proving especially surprising. Historically, the CPI‑M has been able to hold onto its bastions during local body elections, often maintaining control over panchayats even in challenging political climates. This time, that trend appears to be dramatically altered.
In rural areas, the UDF controls 371 gram panchayats, while the LDF is ahead in only 355, signalling a weakening grip for the CPI‑M at the village level. In the six urban corporations statewide, Congress leads in four, the CPI‑M only in one, and the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which the party has ruled for years, now trails the BJP—a clear sign of the scale of the blow.
Municipalities reflect a similar pattern: Congress leads in 51, whereas the LDF holds just 32. Before the elections, the CPI‑M had promised welfare pension increases, but unlike past campaigns, these promises have failed to translate into votes, even as the party secured another term at the state level.
Compounding the issue, allegations surrounding the Sabarimala gold smuggling scandal have deeply dented the party’s support base. Gains hard‑won in urban centres now seem to have collapsed.
Party leaders will need to carefully analyse why this has happened, as the result constitutes one of the most serious setbacks the CPI‑M has faced in recent local body contests.
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