Kerala local body election results | How BJP-led NDA won Thiruvananthapuram: A look at 7 key factors

The BJP-led NDA achieved a historic breakthrough in Kerala by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation—the first time the NDA has come to power in a municipal corporation in the state. In addition to ending LDF’s dominance, the victory is significant for the BJP’s long-term plans in Kerala.

Here are some of the key factors that contributed to it:

Traditional stronghold: Over the past few years, the BJP has made steady gains in Thiruvananthapuram district, particularly within the corporation area. There were already indications that this urban, cosmopolitan demographic—shaped by central and state government institutions, the IT sector, and diverse communities—would be more receptive to the BJP’s messaging. The party won its first assembly seat in Kerala from the Nemom constituency in 2016, which falls within the corporation limits. The BJP has also been the principal opposition in the corporation and has now emerged as an indisputable force in Kerala’s capital city.

New-age campaign strategies: The BJP employed innovative tactics such as QR-coded polling slips and intensive ward-level outreach to overcome internal challenges and negative perceptions stemming from past incidents. Party leaders expressed confidence in carefully calibrated grassroots efforts focused on direct voter engagement. RSS cadres were also actively involved in ground-level campaigning.

Ambitious development manifesto: The BJP promised to transform Thiruvananthapuram into one of India’s top three cities by 2030, establish an Olympic venue, ensure “100% benefit” from Union government schemes, introduce doorstep services, and publish annual performance reports. These promises resonated with an urban electorate frustrated by local governance issues. Hindutva was kept in the background, while development, change, and the proximity of BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar to the central leadership—including Prime Minister Narendra Modi—were emphasised.

Candidate selection: Fielding prominent candidates such as retired IPS officer R. Sreelekha, who won convincingly from the Sasthamangalam ward, gave the BJP a significant boost. The party entered the campaign on the defensive, facing allegations linked to the suicides of two BJP-RSS leaders. A sitting BJP councillor from the Thirumala ward, K. Anil Kumar, was found hanging, and his suicide note cited financial distress in a cooperative society he headed, alleging that party leaders and workers had taken large loans without repayment. Political opponents portrayed the BJP as suffering from toxic internal dynamics, factionalism, corruption, and poor worker support. However, the party managed to overcome these allegations through better candidate selection and a well-grounded campaign, eventually retaining the Thirumala seat with a significant majority.

Anti-incumbency: Perhaps, the most decisive factor behind the BJP’s victory was the strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the LDF. While the broader state trend showed anti-incumbency largely favouring the UDF, in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation it shifted in favour of the BJP. The LDF, which had controlled the corporation for over 45 years and won a clear majority in 2020, faced dissatisfaction over local governance, development delays, and administrative issues. The triangular contest, with a weakened UDF (which improved marginally but remained third), further opened space for the BJP.

Mayor Arya Rajendran’s personal controversies: Arya Rajendran, the outgoing LDF mayor of Thiruvananthapuram—elected in 2020 at the age of 21, making her India’s youngest mayor—faced multiple personal and administrative controversies during her tenure. These fed into broader anti-incumbency sentiment against the LDF and amplified voter dissatisfaction in the December 2025 local body elections.

Allegations ranging from corruption and favouritism to her inexperience to arrogance and administrative overreach shaped adverse public narratives. Incidents such as Arya and her husband, MLA K.M. Sachin Dev, allegedly blocking a public bus reinforced perceptions of entitlement and abuse of power. Allegations that her office coordinated the removal of 24-year-old Congress candidate Vyshna Suresh from the Muttada ward voters’ list further damaged the incumbent’s image. There were also complaints about inaccessibility and a perceived failure to deliver innovative governance despite the initial hype surrounding her elevation. Notably, the CPI(M) chose not to field Arya Rajendran in the 2025 local body elections.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s direct involvement: Chandrasekhar was directly involved in the corporation campaign. He pitched the vision of transforming Thiruvananthapuram into “Vikasita Ananthapuri” (a developed capital), promising clean and transparent governance, doorstep services, and full utilisation of central funds. During the campaign, Chandrasekhar announced that he would contest the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections from the Nemom constituency—a symbolic seat for the BJP. He had secured a strong lead in Nemom during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The announcement served as a morale booster and a signal of long-term commitment and appears to have contributed to the BJP’s victory.