Overview
- The State Election Commission reported the UDF won over 500 grama panchayats, 79 block panchayats, 54 municipalities and four of six corporations, while the UDF and LDF finished 7–7 in district panchayats.
- Urban gains included wresting Thrissur, Kochi and Kollam corporations and retaining Kannur, with the UDF narrowing the gap in Kozhikode Corporation to 26 wards against the LDF’s 34.
- Analysts cite consolidated Christian and Muslim voting plus a strong anti-incumbency mood, with the Sabarimala gold theft probe undercutting the CPI(M)-led government’s standing.
- CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan rejected talk of a setback, alleged a tactical UDF–BJP understanding and ordered reviews, as UDF leader V. D. Satheesan claimed crossover support and pivoted to the Assembly campaign.
- In Kozhikode, the UDF took the district panchayat for the first time with RMP support, the LDF’s tally in the corporation fell to 35, Kochi’s Palluruthy stood out as a rare LDF stronghold, and Congress launched a probe into its mayoral-loss episode to the NDA.