With surprise choices, and public spats marking the mayoral elections, the new civic leadership across Kerala begins its term amid heightened political scrutiny.
Published Dec 26, 2025 | 5:10 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 26, 2025 | 5:10 PM
The local body election verdict has redrawn Kerala’s political map ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: While the Congress-led UDF emerged dominant by winning mayoral posts in four corporations, the BJP scripted a breakthrough in the capital city, and the Left managed to retain its lone urban bastion in Kozhikode.
Kerala’s urban political map witnessed a decisive churn on Friday, 26 December with all six municipal corporations in the state electing their mayors, throwing up a mixed picture of last-minute decisions, internal party churn, abstentions, and fresh controversies.
While the Congress-led UDF emerged dominant by winning mayoral posts in four corporations, the BJP scripted a breakthrough in the capital city, and the Left managed to retain its lone urban bastion in Kozhikode.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the BJP, riding on its landslide victory in the corporation, named state secretary and Kodunganoor ward councillor V.V. Rajesh as mayor in a dramatic last-minute move.
Rajesh’s elevation sparked internal unrest as expectations were high that councillor Sreelekha, a former DGP, whose name had been widely circulated from the early stages, would get the post. The sudden change triggered protests from her supporters, prompting the BJP’s central leadership to step in to pacify her. Ashanath, elected from Karumam ward, will contest for the post of deputy mayor.
Congress’s K.S. Sabarinathan and the LDF’s R.P. Sivaji were the rival mayoral candidates.
The political ripples in the capital were compounded by reports claiming Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had called Rajesh to congratulate him.
The Chief Minister’s Office later issued a clarification, terming such reports false. According to the CMO, Rajesh himself had spoken to the Chief Minister after informing him of his impending election, to which the CM merely responded with a congratulatory remark — not a call initiated by him, as reported.
In Kollam, the Congress registered a historic first by capturing the mayoral post.
Senior INTUC leader MK Hafeez was elected mayor with UDF securing 27 votes against the LDF’s 16, while the BJP and SDPI abstained.
The corporation has a fractured mandate — UDF 27, LDF 16, NDA 12 and SDPI one — making the UDF’s victory significant.
MPs NK Premachandran and Kodikunnil Suresh were among senior leaders present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Kochi Corporation saw UDF’s VK Mini Mol elected mayor with 48 votes in the 76-member council, including support from an independent. LDF candidate Ambika Sudarshan secured 22 votes, while the NDA polled six.
The UDF stitched together a power-sharing arrangement: Mini Mol will serve as mayor for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by Shiny for the remaining term. Deputy mayor posts too will be shared — Deepak Joy during Mini Mol’s term and V.P. Krishnakumar during Shiny’s. The decision came after prolonged deliberations within the party, sidelining even last-minute front-runner Deepthi Mary Varghese.
The most controversy-laden contest unfolded in Thrissur where Dr. Niji Justin, a gynaecologist and councillor from Kizhakkumpattukara, was elected mayor with 35 votes under the supervision of District Collector Arjun Pandian.
Despite the UDF having only 33 councillors, Niji Justin secured additional votes from a Congress rebel, an independent, and two councillors outside the front.
The election triggered sharp dissent within the local Congress, with senior councillor Lali James publicly alleging monetary inducements and openly challenging the district leadership.
The Congress-led UDF completed its sweep in Kannur, with Adv. P. Indira elected mayor after securing 36 votes in the 56-member corporation.
Indira, elected from the Payyambalam division, defeated CPI(M)’s V.K. Prakashini and BJP’s Archana Vandichal.
The UDF will share the mayoral term with the Muslim League for two-and-a-half years each, with K.P. Tahir of the League set to become deputy mayor.
In Kozhikode, the CPI(M) held on to its only urban stronghold as O. Sadashivan, a CPI(M) Kozhikode North area committee member, was elected mayor after a second round of voting.
With no absolute majority in the first round, the runoff saw Sadashivan defeat UDF candidate S.K. Abubakar with 33 votes; two votes were declared invalid, and the NDA abstained.
The corporation’s strength stands at LDF 34, UDF 26, NDA 13 and others three.
With surprise choices, and public spats marking the mayoral elections, the new civic leadership across Kerala begins its term amid heightened political scrutiny.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
