Overview Ending over four decades of the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) hold over the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (BJP-NDA) secured power in the civic body, perhaps the most important local body in Kerala, as the results of the local body polls were declared on Saturday (December 13, 2025) . This marks a significant shift in the political dynamics of the region and has implications for future elections. Key Developments Election Results The NDA won 50 wards in the 101 -ward Corporation. The LDF was reduced to 29 wards. The United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 seats, showing an improved performance compared to previous elections. Political Significance The victory is a major turnaround for the NDA, which had won only in six wards a decade ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the significance of the victory, calling it “a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics.” Party Performance NDA: Consolidated its position in wards won in the last two elections, with increased margins in wards captured for the first time in 2015 . UDF: Gained seats primarily at the cost of the LDF, winning 12 of the 19 wards from the LDF’s sitting seats. LDF: Experienced a significant defeat, losing wards in which they have historically held strong support. Key Candidates and Constituencies R. Sreelekha (BJP): Former Director General of Police (DGP), won from Sasthamangalam by a margin of over 600 votes. K.S. Sabarinadhan (Congress): Former MLA, won by a small margin of 74 votes from the Kowdiar ward. Rakhi Ravikumar (CPI): Former Deputy Mayor, secured her fourth straight victory. Palayam Rajan (Congress (S)): Ended his decades-long stint as an LDF councillor with a loss at Nanthencode. V.V. Rajesh (BJP): Won by a comfortable margin from Kodunganoor. Implications for Upcoming Elections The loss of power in the Corporation and the erosion of urban votes could be a cause for concern for the LDF leadership ahead of the Assembly elections next year. The BJP State president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, stated that the results reflect the failure of the LDF-led State government and the Corporation, indicating a shift towards the BJP’s vision of ‘Vikasita Keralam’ (developed Kerala). UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, particularly for GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance) . It provides insights into local governance, political dynamics, and electoral trends in Kerala. Understanding the performance of different political parties and the factors influencing election outcomes is crucial for analyzing the broader political landscape of the country. Important Facts for Prelims The year in which BJP-NDA secured power in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation: 2025 . Number of wards won by NDA in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation: 50 . Total number of wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation: 101 . Performance of UDF in the election compared to previous elections: Improved . Name of the former DGP who won the election: R. Sreelekha .