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Congress-led front wrests power from CPM in 3 local bodies in Kerala

Congress leader V D Satheesan says the local body bypoll results show that Kerala’s CPM-led government faces strong anti-incumbency.

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan of the Congress said the bypoll outcome is a morale booster for the UDF. (File Photo)

In bypolls held for 31 divisions/wards in various local bodies in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front has made gains and wrested three local bodies ruled by the CPM-led Left Democratic Front.

Even though Kerala’s three-tier local bodies have 21,865 wards/divisions, the Congress has termed the bypoll outcomes in 31 seats as a referendum on the CPM-led government.

Of the 31 seats, the UDF won 17, the LDF 11 and the BJP three. The LDF, which had 15 seats before the bypolls, has lost four to the Congress and the CPM has lost power in three panchayats.

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In the 2020 elections, the LDF had a clear edge in the majority of the local bodies. The next local body elections will be held in November-December 2025.

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan of the Congress said the bypoll outcome is a morale booster for the UDF. “In the elections next year, the UDF will sweep all local bodies in the state. The results show that the LDF faces strong anti-incumbency in Kerala. UDF candidates won all the divisions with a clear majority. In some seats, the Congress could end CPM’s long-standing supremacy,” he said.

In the recent Assembly bypolls in Palakkad and Chelakkara, both the Congress and the CPM retained their seats. The Congress had claimed that strong resentment against the LDF government would reflect in Chelakkara, a CPM stronghold. However, the ruling party retained the seat.

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