Kerala local body polls: Rivals will seek to loosen LDF’s firm grip on Kollam Corporation

The Kollam Corporation has been a historical fortress of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has maintained uninterrupted governance for 25 consecutive years since the Corporation’s formation in 2000. This dominance was reaffirmed in the 2020 elections, where the LDF secured an overwhelming majority for the fifth straight term, significantly expanding their seat tally and overall vote share. In the previous 55-member council, the LDF held 39 seats (CPI(M) 29, CPI 10), completely overshadowing the UDF’s 9 seats (Congress 6, RSP 3). Furthermore, the BJP secured 6 seats and emerged as the runner-up in 14 divisions while the SDPI claimed one.

For the upcoming local body elections, the CPI(M) has implemented a radical strategy by not retaining even a single sitting councillor from the current council. In contrast, the CPI retained three key figures, including incumbent Mayor Honey Benjamin. The CPI(M) has chosen a mixed approach, introducing a completely new line-up while also bringing back earlier, seasoned members. In terms of seat distribution across the total 56 divisions, the CPI(M) candidates are seeking the people’s mandate in 36 divisions, while the CPI is contesting in 17 divisions. Backing the CPI(M)’s campaign are some veteran leaders such as district secretariat member V.K. Aniruddhan and former Mayor V. Rajendrababu.

High-profile clashes

For the United Democratic Front (UDF), the upcoming local body polls are very crucial as the front desperately seeks to recover from the major setback of the 2020 elections, where their tally plummeted from 16 to just 9 seats. In their current effort, the UDF has allocated 11 seats to the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and five to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The campaign features several high-profile clashes: in the Thamarakulam division, Congress’s Mayoral candidate A.K. Hafees faces the CPI(M)’s district committee member and trade union leader A.M. Iqbal. In the Vadakkumbhagam division, key Congress candidate Kuruvila Joseph is challenging the current Mayor Ms. Benjamin. The UDF’s line-up is further strengthened by former Thangassery councillor Udaya Sukumaran Karumalil and Mahila Congress leader Laila Kumari, while in Anchalumoodu, the RSP has fielded State committee member and former councillor M.S. Gopakumar, who is known for his massive winning margin in the past.

The 2020 elections marked a notable shift with the rise of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that successfully tripled its presence in the Corporation, securing six divisions and, significantly, finishing in the second position in 14 other divisions. The BJP, having secured six seats last time, is extremely optimistic about the electoral outcome, anticipating a potential surprise leap this time around. To achieve this, the party has fielded several prominent figures, including S. Dinny in Vadakkevila, alongside a couple of current, incumbent councillors.

‘Slow development pace’

Despite having announced several grandiose infrastructure projects in the past, the Kollam Corporation is facing criticism as many of these projects remain stalled. The Opposition alleges that these “mega-projects,” launched with great fanfare, are merely political ploys designed to garner attention or secure votes rather than genuine commitments to development. Compared to other Corporations in the State, Kollam has frequently been criticised for its slow pace of development. Currently, the UDF and NDA are heavily flagging issues like ineffective waste disposal and other civic problems.

Meanwhile, the Left leadership counters this criticism by asserting that their recurrent electoral victories demonstrate the people’s approval and unwavering faith in their governance. The election outcome in Kollam will pivot on whether the LDF’s candidate renewal strategy is sufficient to persuade voters or if the pervasive anti-incumbency sentiment will translate into significant gains for the UDF and the NDA. The LDF is currently deploying every resource to maintain its unshakeable dominance across all levels of local governance.

Consequently, the 2025 elections will be a crucial assessment of the LDF’s capacity to defend its decades-long hegemony amid the rising influence of the NDA and the calculated moves of the UDF.