Overview
- The State Election Commission’s tally shows the UDF winning over 500 of 941 grama panchayats, 79 of 152 block panchayats, 7 of 14 district panchayats, 54 of 87 municipalities and 4 of 6 corporations.
- M. V. Govindan and T. P. Ramakrishnan said the LDF will review the setback but will not forge tactical alliances with the Congress or independents to form councils.
- The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 50 wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, and the NDA is poised to lead Thripunithura after UDF and LDF ruled out a joint front there.
- Kerala Congress (M) reaffirmed it will stay with the LDF, and UDF leaders on Wednesday dismissed talk of a rapprochement, arguing the party’s base has eroded in its strongholds.
- Commentators cited anger against the state government and the consolidation of minority votes, with the Sabarimala gold-theft case among factors seen to have hurt the Left.