BJP Solidifies Third Pole in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram Dec 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strategically positioning itself as an emerging third pole in Kerala politics, following significant breakthroughs in the recent local body and parliamentary election trends, according to an analysis of the results.
Statewide, the 2025 local body elections have marked a significant expansion of the BJP’s presence across Village, Block and District Panchayats, as well as in municipalities and municipal corporations.
Local growth was reflected in the 2025 Thrissur Corporation elections, where a BJP candidate, Mumtaz, won the Kannankulangara ward against the Congress incumbent.
At the same time, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged as the single largest force in local governance, securing control of a majority of local bodies, while the ruling LDF trailed behind.
In Kerala’s unique political landscape, the Congress and the Left continue to remain principal rivals at the state level, despite being partners in the INDIA bloc at the national level.
The broader outcome of the 2025 local body polls points to clear anti-incumbency sentiment against the LDF, a strong revival of the UDF, and a gradual but steady consolidation of the NDA as a relevant political player in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly thanked voters in Kerala for their support of BJP and NDA candidates in the recent local body polls, framing the results as a reflection of widespread disillusionment with both the traditional ruling fronts.
In a post in Malayalam on X, the Prime Minister stated that the people of Kerala viewed the NDA as the “only alternative” capable of ensuring good governance and building a “Vikasita Keralam” that offers opportunities to all sections of society, in light of their dissatisfaction with the UDF and LDF.
My gratitude to the people across Kerala who voted for BJP and NDA candidates in the local body polls in the state. Kerala is fed up of UDF and LDF. They see NDA as the only option that can deliver on good governance and build a #VikasitaKeralam with opportunities for all.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2025
Looking back, the most notable success occurred in Thrissur, where BJP’s Suresh Gopi registered a decisive victory in the 2024 parliamentary election. (Edited)
