BJP–UDF Joined Hands to Defeat LDF, But Left Remains Strong: M.V. Govindan

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan on Monday said the local body elections witnessed a clear coming together of communal forces and the UDF against the LDF. Even a preliminary assessment of the results, he said, showed that communal forces had acted in unison with the objective of defeating the LDF. Claims that the LDF’s political base had collapsed were completely contrary to facts, he added.

M.V. Govindan pointed out that the LDF continues to remain the single largest political force in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. While the LDF secured around 175,000 votes, the BJP polled about 165,000 votes and the UDF around 125,000 votes. In the 41 divisions won by the BJP, the UDF was pushed to third place. In as many as 25 wards, the UDF received fewer than 1,000 votes.

He alleged that the BJP and the UDF had carried out a coordinated political intervention against the LDF. M.V. Govindan said the UDF’s claim that it would “keep the BJP out of power” after jointly defeating the LDF was a hypocritical slogan.

Rejecting the narrative that the LDF had suffered a major setback in the local body elections, M.V. Govindan said such claims were being deliberately propagated. He noted that while post-election commentary largely focused on projecting a severe defeat for the LDF, figures published by the same media outlets showed that the LDF had registered a net gain of 58 seats at the grama panchayat and municipality levels. A closer examination of the district panchayat and corporation results would reveal an even stronger performance, he said.

On the BJP’s performance, M.V. Govindan said that despite contesting as a single party, it failed to secure a simple majority or emerge as the front with the highest vote share in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. He pointed out that the LDF lost by margins of fewer than 60 votes in seven divisions.

He further said the BJP had suffered setbacks in district panchayats, where voting is politically consolidated. While the NDA had won three district panchayat divisions in the previous elections, that number had come down to just one this time. Claims of a major BJP surge were therefore baseless, he added.

Despite the government’s strong performance, M.V. Govindan said the party would seriously examine outcomes in certain areas. District committees would conduct preliminary assessments, after which the state committee would prepare a detailed review and introduce necessary corrective measures.

He made it clear that the party would not engage in any attempt to capture power through defections or horse-trading. The LDF would work in coordination with independents willing to cooperate with the Left and with those who decide to join the front, but would not enter into any alliance with communal forces. In places where the LDF lacks a majority, it has decided to remain in the opposition and strengthen its political struggle.

Raising concerns over the voters’ list, M.V. Govindan said the ongoing processes were effectively denying people their right to vote and called on the Election Commission to intervene urgently.