2025 Kerala local elections
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9–11 December 2025
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1199 of 1200 local bodies in Kerala[a] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 73.69% ( 2.51%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 2025 Kerala local elections results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elections to local governments (Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations) in Kerala were held on 9 December 2025 and 11 December 2025 in 2 phases. Results were announced on 13 December 2025 through the Kerala State Election Commission's official results portal after conclusion of counting.[1][2][3]
The State Election Commission, Kerala had completed preparatory processes, including finalising electoral rolls, delimitation of wards, and scheduling. According to the final voter's list published by the Kerala State Election Commission, the State had a total of 2,84,30,761 registered voters.[4]
Background
[edit]Local body elections in Kerala are held every five years to elect members to grama, block, and district panchayats, as well as municipalities and municipal corporations. The 2020 Kerala local elections were held in December 2020, resulting in a decisive victory for the LDF.[5]
Ward delimitation 2025
[edit]In preparation for the 2025 Kerala local body elections, the state undertook a ward delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. As a result, the total number of wards across local self-government institutions increased from 21,900 to 23,612, adding 1,712 new. The exercise was carried out by a Delimitation Commission, Kerala headed by State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan and covered all districts of the state. Public hearings were held before issuing the final notifications between May and July 2025.[6][7]
The number of wards in the state’s 87 municipalities increased from 3,113 to 3,241, while the six municipal corporations saw an increase from 414 to 421 wards. In the 941 grama panchayats, the total number of wards rose from 15,962 to 17,337. The 152 block panchayats recorded an increase from 2,080 to 2,267 wards, and the 14 district panchayats now have 346 wards, up from the previous 331.[8]
Schedule
[edit]The State Election Commission held the polling in 2 phases in December 2025. The first phase was held on December 9 for the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam; The second phase was then held on December 11 for the districts of Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod, and Kozhikode.[1][9] District administrations released preliminary notifications regarding reservation draws, ward delimitations, and procurement for polling materials.[10]
Voter rolls
[edit]The SEC has undertaken summary revision of electoral rolls with house-to-house enumeration and verification of entries. Political parties have raised concerns regarding alleged duplication of entries and have submitted complaints to district collectors and the SEC.[11][12]
In July 2025, voter list was published listing 2,66,78,256 registered voters—of whom 1,40,45,837 were women, 1,26,32,186 men and 233 transgender voters.[13] After summary revision and disposal of claims and objections, the final voters’ list was published in September 2025, showing a total of 2,83,12,472 voters—an increase of 16.34 lakh over the draft list.[14] The SEC allowed new voter applications and corrections until 12 August 2025, following which the rolls were frozen for the conduct of elections.[15] The complete electoral roll can be accessed on the SEC’s official voter-search portal.[16]
Parties and coalitions
[edit]The main political alliances contesting the elections were expected to be:
- The Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and including the Communist Party of India (CPI), Kerala Congress (M), JD(S) (Thomas Faction), NCP (SP), Congress (Secular), and several smaller left-aligned groups.
- The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the INC and including the IUML, Kerala Congress factions such as KC(Jacob), RSP, and CMP(J).
- The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP and including the BDJS, Kerala Kamaraj Congress and allied regional partners.
In addition, several minor and independent parties also fielded candidates in various wards, including the SDPI, Welfare Party of India, Aam Aadmi Party, and Twenty20, a civic platform based in Kizhakkambalam. Independents and local issue-based collectives were also expected to contest extensively across the state.[17][18]
Conduct
[edit]The Kerala State Election Commission had released administrative circulars related to polling arrangements, counting centres, and electronic publication of trends and results through the TREND 2025 portal.[19]
Results
[edit]Results were published by the SEC on its official portal after counting. This is a summary of the outcome.
Vote share
[edit]The following table summarizes the party-wise vote share and total votes polled across the four primary tiers of local self-government in Kerala. The 2025 elections saw a significant shift, with the United Democratic Front (UDF) emerging as the largest alliance in terms of total vote percentage across all segments.
Consolidated Vote Share by Local Body Tier (2025)
[edit]| Alliance | Corporations | Municipalities | Grama Panchayats | District Panchayats | Total Vote Share (Statewide) |
| UDF | 35.51% | 39.07% | 39.15% | 42.01% | 38.81% |
| LDF | 33.63% | 29.63% | 34.51% | 38.66% | 33.45% |
| NDA | 22.60% | 14.29% | 13.73% | 15.66% | 14.71% |
| Others | 8.25% | 17.01% | 12.61% | 3.67% | 13.03% |
Local body wise
[edit]Summary
[edit]| Local self-government body | Local Bodies in lead | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDF | LDF | NDA | Others | Tie | ||
| Grama Panchayats | 505 ( 184) |
340 (174) |
26 (7) |
6 | 64 | 941 |
| Block Panchayats | 79 (41) |
63 (45) |
0 ( ) |
0 () |
10 | 152 |
| District Panchayats | 7 (4) |
7 (4) |
0 () |
0 () |
0 | 14 |
| Municipalities | 54 (13) |
28 (15) |
2 () |
1 (1) |
1 | 86 |
| Corporations | 4 ( 3) |
1 (4) |
1 ( 1) |
0 () |
0 | 6 |
Ward-wise
[edit]| Local self-government body | Wards in lead | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDF | LDF | NDA | Others | ||
| Grama Panchayats | 8,021 (2,128) |
6,568 (694) |
1,447 (265) |
1,299 (321) |
17,337 |
| Block Panchayats | 1241 (514) |
923 (343) |
54 (17) |
49 () |
2267 |
| District Panchayats | 195 (85) |
149 (63) |
1 (1) |
1 (5) |
346 |
| Municipalities | 1,458 (286) |
1,100 (67) |
324 (4) |
323 (93) |
3,205 |
| Corporations | 187 (67) |
125 (82) |
93 (33) |
15 (12) |
346 |
Municipal Corporations
[edit]| Corporation | Wards won | Total | Alliance in majority (2020) | Alliance in majority (2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UDF | LDF | NDA | Others | ||||
 |
36 (2) |
15 (4) |
4 (3) |
1 () |
56 | UDF | UDF |
|
47 (16) |
20 (14) |
6 (1) |
3 (1) |
76 | LDF | UDF |
 Kollam |
27 (18) |
16 (23) |
12 (6) |
1 () |
56 | LDF | UDF |
 Kozhikode |
28 (11) |
35 (16) |
13 (6) |
3 (3) |
76 | LDF | LDF |
 Thiruvananthapuram |
20 (10) |
29 (24) |
50 (15) |
2 (1) |
101[b] | LDF | NDA |
 Thrissur |
33 (9) |
11 (13) |
8 (2) |
4 (3) |
56 | Hung/LDF[c] | UDF |
- Seats Won by Other Parties
The Aam Aadmi Party has opened its account in Kerala by winning 3 seats in the Kerala local body elections, all secured by women candidates.[22]
In Aikaranadu Grama Panchayat, Twenty20 won all 16 wards while in Kizhakkambalam Grama Panchayat, it won 14 of 21 wards and retained that panchayat. In Thiruvaniyoor, it secured 9 of 18 wards. Though Twenty20 lost control of some of its previously held panchayats such as Mazhuvannoor and Kunnathunad, they have won seats in a few other panchayat wards (e.g., Poothrikka, Vengola, Manakkad). It also one 3 divisions in Vazhakulam Block Panchayat.[23]
Seats won by Alliances across wards [24]
UDF
[edit]- Indian National Congress: 7826
- Indian Union Muslim League: 2850
- Kerala Congress: 332
- Revolutionary Socialist Party: 57
- Kerala Congress (Jacob): 34
- Revolutionary Marxist Party of India: 29
- Communist Marxist Party Central Council (CP John faction): 10
- Kerala Democratic Party: 8
- Bharatiya National Janata Dal: 3
- All India Forward Bloc: 1
LDF
[edit]- Communist Party of India (Marxist): 7475
- Communist Party of India: 1019
- Kerala Congress (M): 246
- Rashtriya Janata Dal: 63
- Janata Dal (Secular): 44
- Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar: 25
- Kerala Congress (B): 15
- Indian National League: 10
- National Secular Conference: 9
- Congress (Secular): 8
- Janadhipathya Kerala Congress: 6
NDA
[edit]- Bharatiya Janata Party: 1914
- Twenty 20 Party: 78
- Bharath Dharma Jana Sena: 5
- Lok Janshakthi Party: 1
Others
[edit]- Social Democratic Party of India: 97
- Welfare Party of India: 31
- Peoples Democratic Party: 5
- Aam Aadmi Party: 3
- Bahujan Samaj Party: 3
- Samajwadi Party: 1
- Independents: 1403
District wise results
[edit]The following are the district-wise local body election results based on majority:[25]
| District[25][26] | Alliance | Gram Panchayats | Block Panchayats | District Panchayats | Municipalities | Corporations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiruvananthapuram | Total | 38 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| LDF | 21 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| UDF | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| NDA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Kollam | Total | 35 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| LDF | 18 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| UDF | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pathanamthitta | Total | 28 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| LDF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| UDF | 21 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| NDA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Alappuzha | Total | 32 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| LDF | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| UDF | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kottayam | Total | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| LDF | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| UDF | 26 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Idukki | Total | 42 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| LDF | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| UDF | 32 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ernakulam | Total | 62 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| LDF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| UDF | 57 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Others | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Thrissur | Total | 55 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| LDF | 30 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| UDF | 24 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| NDA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Palakkad | Total | 59 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| LDF | 37 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| UDF | 20 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| NDA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Malappuram | Total | 82 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| LDF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| UDF | 79 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Others | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kozhikode | Total | 52 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| LDF | 21 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| UDF | 31 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wayanad | Total | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| LDF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| UDF | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kannur | Total | 67 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| LDF | 47 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| UDF | 20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| NDA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kasaragod | Total | 25 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| LDF | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| UDF | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| NDA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Post Election shifts
[edit]In Udma Grama Panchayat in Kasaragod, LDF won the presidency throw a draw of lots, despite the UDF winning 12 of 23 seats, because an invalid ballot vote from UDF camp, which resulted in a tie. In July 2026, UDF regained the presidency through a no-confidence motion.[27] Similar situation happened in Muppainad Grama Panchayat in Wayanad, where LDF won back the presidency through a no-confidence motion.[28] In the Erumeli Grama Panchayat in Kottayam, the LDF won the presidency despite winning 14 of 24 seats as the seat was reserved for Scheduled Caste candidate and UDF had none.[29]
In Moonnilavu Grama Panchayat in Kottayam, UDF gain presidency through a no-confidence motion in which Kerala Congress (Joseph) member cross voted.[30]
In 2 panchayats, NDA presidency was removed via cross party support from UDF and LDF: Narananganam Grama Panchayat in Pathanamthitta where LDF took presidency in August 2026 [31] and Paralam Grama Panchayat in Thrissur where UDF won presidency in September 2026.[32]
By-polls
[edit]By-elections were held to 38 wards and divisions across Kerala on 28 September 2026, with results declared on 29 September. The United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 seats, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 18 seats. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which included Twenty 20 Party, retained their one seat meanwhile Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win any seats. The by-elections recorded a voter turnout of 58.81%.[33]
Results
[edit]| Alliance | Seats contested | Seats won | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDF | 38 | 19 | 3 |
| LDF | 38 | 18 | 3 |
| NDA | 38 | 1 | |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Rajwi, Tiki (10 November 2025). "Kerala local body elections 2025 to be held in two phases on December 9 and 11; counting on December 13". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body election to be held in two phases on December 9, 11; counting of votes on Dec 13". The New Indian Express. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body polls 2025 results highlights: UDF clinches decisive win; PM Modi thanks voters as NDA scripts history in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation". The Hindu. 13 December 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ Rajwi, Tiki (30 October 2025). "2025 local body polls in Kerala: State Election Commission caps voter number per polling station at 1,500 in civic bodies; 1,200 in panchayats". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body polls in three phases in December". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ↑ Service, Express News (13 August 2025). "Delimitation: Over 1.7k new wards in Kerala local body polls". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "Ward delimitation exercise in Kerala local bodies completed: State Delimitation Commission". The Hindu. 12 August 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "Final notification on delimitation in urban local bodies in Kerala issued". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body elections scheduled for November–December 2025". Mathrubhumi. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Panchayat Election 2025 – Alappuzha District". Alappuzha District Administration. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Voter list revision underway in Kerala: House-to-house enumeration begins". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "2.75 lakh double votes, CPM manipulated list, alleges BJP". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body polls: Know how to check or add your name in the voters' list". Onmanorama. Malayala Manorama. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala Election Commission publishes updated voters list for local body elections". Mathrubhumi English. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local election voter list update extended; last date August 12". Mathrubhumi English. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Electoral Roll – State Election Commission, Kerala". State Election Commission, Kerala. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body elections scheduled for November–December 2025". Mathrubhumi English. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Smaller parties gear up for 2025 local polls across Kerala". Onmanorama. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025. [dead link]
- ↑ "LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS KERALA – TREND 2025". State Election Commission, Kerala. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala Local Body Elections 2025 at a glance: Infographics". The Hindu. 13 December 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ "Kerala local body polls: UDF won 38.81% and LDF 33.45% of votes, show vote share data released by State Election Commission". The Hindu. 19 December 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ↑ "AAP wins three seats in Kerala local body elections". Mathrubhumi. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "Twenty20 loses two panchayats wins Kizhakkambalam Aikaranadu in local polls". the week. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ↑ "Reddit". www.reddit.com. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Kerala Panchayat Election 2025 Results | Mathrubhumi". results.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ↑ "Local Body Elections 2025 - TREND by State Election Commission Kerala". trend.sec.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ↑ "UDF regains Udma panchayat after six-month setback; Congress's N Chandran elected president". Onmanorama. 3 August 2026.
- ↑ "LDF ousts UDF president months after losing in draw of lots in Mooppainad panchayat". Onmanorama. 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "LDF Wins Erumeli Panchayat Presidentship Despite UDF Majority and Boycott". Deshabhimani. 29 December 2025.
- ↑ "After Pala setback, UDF bounces back in Moonnilavu panchayat, ousts LDF". Onmanorama. 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Naranganam grama panchayat has seen the BJP lose its president post following a no-confidence motion". Manorama Online. 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "BJP loses power in Paralam, reduced to just one panchayat in Thrissur". Onmanorama. 10 September 2026.
- ↑ "In first electoral test since May win, UDF loses 3 seats in Keralam local bodies bypolls". The Indian Express. 29 September 2026.
