After Nilambur victory, Congress in Kerala gears up for local body polls

IANS July 5, 2025 288 views

The Kerala Congress is preparing for upcoming local body elections with renewed energy after its Nilambur Assembly bypoll victory. Senior leaders like V.D. Satheesan and K. Sudhakaran are strategically positioned to lead district-level campaigns. The party aims to challenge the Left Democratic Front's current local governance dominance. These elections are seen as a critical precursor to the 2026 Assembly polls, making them a high-stakes political battleground.

"This is going to be a crucial semi-final ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls" - V.D. Satheesan, Leader of Opposition
Thiruvananthapuram, July 5: Buoyed by its recent victory in the Nilambur Assembly bypoll, the Congress party in Kerala has turned its focus to the upcoming local body elections.

Key Points

1

Congress targets reclaiming Kochi Corporation after 2020 loss

2

Party assigns senior leaders to key districts strategically

3

Kerala has 23,612 wards across local governance institutions

4

Left currently dominates local body election landscape

This is going to be a crucial semi-final ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls -- expected to be a high-stakes political contest.

Riding on the momentum from Nilambur, the party has begun mobilizing its senior leadership to lead the charge at the grassroots level. Key leaders have been assigned specific districts to spearhead the campaign and galvanize support.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan will oversee the party's efforts in Kochi, with a specific focus on reclaiming the Kochi Corporation, which the Congress lost to the Left in the 2020 local body polls.

Veteran leader and Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran will take charge of the campaign in Kannur, while senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan has been assigned the Thiruvananthapuram district.

Other prominent leaders, including Benny Behanan, Ramesh Chennithala, P.C. Vishnunath, and Roji M. John, will also lead campaigns in key districts.

Kerala has a total of 23,612 wards spread across its local self-government institutions -- which include Grama Panchayats, Block Panchayats, District Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations.

In the 2020 local body elections, out of a total of 941 Grama Panchayats, the Left won 514, while UDF 321, NDA 19, and others won 23 Panchayats.

Of 152 Block Panchayats, 108 went to the Left kitty, while UDF got 38. Of the 14 District Panchayats, Left won 11 and UDF just 3.

Out of 87 Municipalities, the Left won 43, UDF 41, and NDA 2; and out of 6 Corporations, the Left has 5 and UDF 1.

In terms of vote share in 2020, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 40.18 per cent, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) 37.92 per cent, and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 15.02 per cent.

With local body polls playing a significant role in shaping the political narrative ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Congress is keen to consolidate its grassroots presence and challenge the dominance of the ruling Left.

Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
As a Kochi resident, I'm glad Satheesan is taking charge here. We need better infrastructure and waste management - hope Congress has concrete plans beyond just political rhetoric. The corporation has been failing us for years 😒
V
Vikram M
The 2020 numbers show how strong LDF is at grassroots level. Congress shouldn't celebrate Nilambur too much - local bodies are different ballgame. Need strong local leaders, not just star campaigners parachuting in.
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Anjali F
Why is Congress still relying on same old faces? Where are the women leaders in this campaign strategy? Kerala has highest women voter turnout but parties still treat us as vote banks rather than leadership material 🙄
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Karthik V
Good to see Congress getting organized early. But they must address local issues - potholes, garbage, water supply - not just make this about 2026 elections. People want solutions now, not political drama!
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Nikhil C
The BJP's 15% vote share is interesting - they're becoming a factor in Kerala politics. Congress should worry about losing votes to both LDF and BJP if they don't get their act together. Three-way fights benefit LDF.

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Tags:
Kerala Politics Congress V.D. Satheesan Local Body Elections Kerala Politics 2024