Kerela Local-Self Government Polls 2020

News from Kerela shatters the BJP's hopes to make a significant dent in the South-western state traditionally voting for the Left and Congress. The LDF gained ground in the rural areas winning/leading in 10 of 14 District Panchayats, 110 of 152 Block Panchayats and 514 of 941 Gram Panchayats. Their tally has improved over the UDF losses who are at a promising second with 4,42 and 376 respectively with the NDA at distant third. The UDF's performance in the Urban areas is however impressive. Whilst it managed to win in 45 municipalities, the LDF is at 35 of the total 86 municipalities. In the 6 Corporations both the LDF and the UDF is tied at 3 each. 

The Kerela Local-Self Government Polls occured in three phases on the 8th, 10th &14th of                                                 December

The Congress led UDF is trying to woo 4 independent corporators in the Kochi Municipal Corporation where it has 30 seats and the LDF 33. If this is successful the UDF will have 4 Corporations in the State with the LDF having 2. However it's performance in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation is very distressing. Whilst the LDF has gained 50 seats, the BJP has won 30 and the UDF has won only 9. This is due to the long absence of the Congress MP of the area, Dr Shashi Tharoor who was in Delhi for the long length of the lockdown. It's the only Corporation where the NDA is at second place. Another area where the BJP has achieved a landmark victory is at the Pandalam Municipality winning 17 of the 33 wards which houses the famous Sabrimala Temple which was the seat of all controversy when the Supreme Court ruled admitting women of all ages inside the temple.
      The BJP led NDA has won the Pandalam                Municipality which houses the renowned                                Sabrimala Temple.

CPI(M) leader KK Shailaja Teacher has declared that the results show the support the LDF government enjoys from the people of the state. However Kerela is renowned for this policy of electing the Left in Local Self-government polls, the Congress led UDF in the Centre and following the alternate principle in the elections to the state legislature. The Kerela Local-Self Government polls occured in three phases on the 8th, 10th and 14th of December. Considering the pandemic situation the time for voting was increased by two hours in addition to the normal practice. These polls were considered to be the semi-finals for the upcoming Niyamsabha elections of 2021. Although the stage for the battle has been laid and both the leading coalitions are expected to delve into a better, more well-organized campaign there is an aura in the air that suggests we might see a Vijayan 2.0 next year.

Congress MP and Stalwart, Dr Shashi Tharoor's (left) prolonged absence might have caused UDF's loss in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation; CPI(M) leader, KK Shailaja Teacher (right) noted the victory as the people's positive             mandate towards the incumbent LDF                                        Government.
(All figures are as of the time when the blog was written.)

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