Kerala local body election results 2025 LIVE: UDF sweeps corporations, municipalities & panchayats; BJP leads TVM corp
The counting of votes for the high-stakes Kerala local body elections began at 8 am on Saturday, with trends indicating an upper hand for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) across key local bodies, including the corporations.
The elections are widely seen as a crucial political test ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. For the CPM-led LDF, the results are important to retain its traditional strongholds and reinforce its narrative of stable governance. The UDF is hoping to capitalise on anti-incumbency sentiment, while the BJP-led NDA is eyeing improved performances, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur, as part of its push for broader statewide expansion.
Corporations
Early trends in the corporation results point to a major shift in Kerala’s urban political landscape, with the UDF leading in four of the six corporations. The UDF has taken clear leads in Kollam, Kochi and Thrissur and is likely to retain Kannur, while the NDA has surged ahead in Thiruvananthapuram, positioning itself for a possible win in the capital. Kozhikode remains the lone corporation where the LDF is holding on, offering some consolation to the ruling front amid an otherwise difficult showing in the urban centres. In the 2020 elections, the LDF had won five of the six corporations, while the UDF secured control of Kannur Corporation.
Municipalities
The UDF is currently leading in 55 of the 86 municipalities, with the LDF trailing behind in 28. In 2020, the LDF won control of 43 municipalities, the UDF 41, and the BJP two. The UDF has swept much of central and northern Kerala, while also registering strong performances in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam. The LDF has managed to retain control in a handful of traditional strongholds, particularly in parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kozhikode districts. The NDA remains marginal overall but has made notable inroads by retaining Palakkad municipality, leading in Tripunithura and emerging as runner-up in Thodupuzha, signalling limited but visible gains in select urban pockets.
Grama panchayats
Among the 941 grama panchayats, the UDF is leading in 492 panchayats and the LDF in 347. While the BJP has secured 25, 64 panchayats reported a tie. In the previous elections, the LDF had won 514 grama panchayats, followed by the UDF with 321, the NDA with 19, and independents with 23. A total of 64 panchayats had ended in ties.
District panchayats
Out of the 14 district panchayats, the UDF is leading in eight and the LDF in 6. After the 2020 elections, the LDF controlled 11 district panchayats, while the UDF held three. The latter assumed control of Wayanad district panchayat after drawing lots.
Block panchayats
Block panchayats also saw the UDF securing an upperhand. The front is leading in 81 and the LDF in 63. In the 2020 elections, the LDF won 108 of the 152 block panchayats, and the UDF won 38.
Counting process
Elections were held for six corporations, 14 district panchayats, 87 municipalities, 152 block panchayats and 941 grama panchayats in two phases on December 9 and 11.
Before counting began, strong rooms were opened in the presence of returning officers, assistant returning officers, observers, candidates and election agents. Control units from each ward were shifted to counting halls, where round-by-round tabulation is under way.
Counting for grama, block and district panchayats is being conducted at block-level centres, while municipalities and corporations are counting votes at their respective institutions. Postal ballots for grama and block panchayats are being counted at the returning officers’ tables, while district-level postal ballots are being verified and counted at collectorates.
Officials are checking whether all mandatory forms are enclosed in each postal ballot envelope. Ballots received after the cut-off time are being marked as ‘received late’ and set aside without counting.
What happens next
The entire election process must be completed by December 18, 2025. The Local Self-Government Department has already issued directions on assuming office.
In local bodies where the term of the governing committee ends on December 20, newly elected members and councillors must take oath and assume charge on December 21. Some local bodies in Malappuram district, where terms end later, have been assigned separate oath-taking dates.
2020 local body election snapshot
In the 2020 local body elections, the LDF secured a sweeping mandate with an overall voter turnout of 76.2 percent, a drop of 1.5 percent from 2015.
LDF
The LDF secured a vote share of 40.2 percent, winning 514 grama panchayats, 108 block panchayats, 11 district panchayats, 43 municipalities and five corporations.
UDF
The UDF recorded a vote share of 37.9 percent and won 321 grama panchayats, 38 block panchayats, three district panchayats, 41 municipalities and one corporation.
NDA
The NDA polled 15 percent of the votes, winning 19 grama panchayats and three municipalities.
In Kasaragod and Wayanad district panchayats, ties between the LDF and UDF were resolved by drawing lots, with Kasaragod going to the LDF and Wayanad to the UDF.
