Thiruvananthapuram is witnessing a political renaissance as the BJP storms to power in the city’s corporation, ending the Left’s iron-fisted rule spanning more than 40 years. This stunning upset in the local body polls underscores the saffron party’s meticulous groundwork and positions it as a formidable contender in upcoming assembly battles.
BJP’s haul of 50 seats in the 101-member body outpaced LDF’s 29 and UDF’s 20, bolstered by an independent’s backing to reach majority. The win reflects deeper trends: BJP’s consistent climb in assembly runner-up positions—from a single seat in 2011 to four by 2021—contrasts sharply with Congress’s freefall from eight seats to one.
Party architects are treating the district, home to 14 assembly segments, as ground zero for expansion. The civic success could replicate in state polls if voter enthusiasm holds, particularly targeting Congress bastions. Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s announcement to fight from Nemom—BJP’s 2016 conquest and his 2024 Lok Sabha battleground against Tharoor—highlights the ambition. Kazhakkoottam, Vattiyoorkavu, and Attingal also loom large on the radar.
Beyond numbers, this victory emboldens BJP to challenge the entrenched Left and Congress hegemonies in Kerala’s capital. It’s a morale booster that could reshape alliances and voter alignments, hinting at saffron inroads into traditional red and rainbow territories.
