The CPI(M) in Kerala has been dealt a serious blow in the latest local body elections, prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to publicly acknowledge the setback and commit to a thorough internal review. In a statement issued on Saturday, Vijayan admitted that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had fallen well short of expectations and that the verdict served as a warning ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections. He stressed that the outcome demanded stronger vigilance against misinformation and what he described as the growing influence of communal and divisive forces in the state’s political landscape.
According to Vijayan, the LDF will examine the reasons for the poor showing in detail and initiate corrective measures after holding discussions with party workers and supporters. He pointed out that the expansion of the BJP-led NDA in Thiruvananthapuram, along with the visible impact of communal rhetoric during the campaign, should concern those committed to Kerala’s secular political fabric.
The election results mark one of the most significant electoral setbacks for the CPI(M)-led front in recent years. Out of six municipal corporations, the LDF secured only one, while the BJP managed to win one as well. The LDF’s strength in district panchayats declined from 11 to seven, and the front could win only 341 of the 941 grama panchayats. Its performance in municipalities was also weak, with the LDF capturing just 28.
Reacting to the results, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan attributed the LDF’s defeat to what he called its “communal politics,” claiming that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) succeeded by presenting voters with a clear charge sheet against the government and a transparent governing agenda. Satheesan thanked voters for the mandate and expressed confidence that the UDF would replicate this success in the upcoming Assembly elections.
National Congress leaders also weighed in. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Kerala unit would approach the Assembly elections with unity and responsibility, while Rahul Gandhi remarked that the results reflected Kerala’s desire for accountable governance.
