The ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) faced a major setback in Kerala's 2025 local body elections. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) made a strong comeback, winning four of six Corporations: Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) became the single-largest group in the high-profile Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, winning 50 of 101 wards. Vote counting took place on Saturday across multiple centers. The LDF managed to hold only Kozhikode Corporation, down from five Corporations in 2020. They won 340 grama panchayats, 63 block panchayats, seven district panchayats, and 28 municipalities. The UDF, by contrast, won 505 grama panchayats, 79 block panchayats, seven district panchayats, and 54 municipalities. The NDA won Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and secured 26 grama panchayats and two municipalities. Ties were reported in 75 local bodies, including 64 grama panchayats, 10 block panchayats, and one municipality. Independents and other parties won in six grama panchayats and one municipality. At the time of the report, UDF held 9,015 out of 17,337 grama panchayat wards, LDF had 6,559, NDA-BJP 1,444, and others/Independents 1,273. In block panchayats, UDF won 1,241 wards, LDF 923, NDA-BJP 54, and others 49. In district panchayat wards, UDF had 171, LDF 109, NDA-BJP one, and others one. In municipal wards, UDF led with 1,458, LDF 1,100, NDA-BJP 324, and others 323. In Corporation wards, UDF secured 187, LDF 125, BJP 93, and others 15. The BJP made noticeable gains in urban local bodies, emerging as the top group in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and main opposition in several municipalities. The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election, with 101 wards total, delayed voting in the Vizhinjam ward due to a candidate's death. The LDF, dominant in 2020, lost ground across local bodies. Notable winners include former Congress MLA Anil Akkara (Adat, Thrissur), former Congress MLA K. Sabarinadhan (Kowdiar ward, Thiruvananthapuram), and BJP's former DGP R. Sreelekha (Sasthamangalam ward, Thiruvananthapuram). Key losses were LDF's Kollam Corporation Mayor Honey Benjamin and former Mayor V. Rajendrababu. The new local body members will take oath on December 21. The elections were seen as a key indicator ahead of Kerala's 2026 State Assembly elections. Voter turnout for the two-phase election on December 9 and 11 was high at 73.69%, with over 2.1 crore voters cast their ballots from a list of 2.86 crore voters. Counting began early Saturday and results were finalized by evening.