Nilambur: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) faced a major political setback in the first local body elections following the departure of former MLA PV Anwar, as the United Democratic Front (UDF) captured key panchayats in Nilambur, including Anwar’s former stronghold of Edavanna. The results indicate a significant shift in voter sentiment, challenging the dominance of the ruling Left in the region.
PV Anwar, who recently parted ways with the LDF, extended full support to the UDF during the elections. He instructed the Trinamool Congress not to contest against the UDF, signaling a united front aimed at ending what he described as “Pinarayism”. “The people must have the opportunity to change the governance direction. This election is crucial for ending the existing patterns of rule,” Anwar had remarked prior to the polls.
Counting of votes is underway across the state, with the UDF leading in multiple three-tier panchayat elections. Even traditional Left bastions have seen LDF candidates trailing behind, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has also improved its position, reflecting a more competitive political landscape.
The scale of the elections is unprecedented, with votes being tallied for 1,129 local bodies across 244 counting centers in 14 districts. In this two-phase exercise, elections were held for 17,337 wards in 941 gram panchayats, 2,267 wards in 152 block panchayats, 346 wards in 14 district panchayats, 3,205 wards in 86 municipalities, and 421 wards in six corporations.
Voter engagement remained high, though slightly lower than in 2020. The two-phase elections recorded an overall turnout of 73.68 percent, compared to 75.95 percent in the previous cycle. The first phase on December 9 saw 70.9 percent voter turnout, while the second phase on December 11 recorded 76.08 percent, with a total of over 2.10 crore voters participating across Kerala.
The results from Nilambur and surrounding panchayats signal a dramatic shift in regional politics, reflecting growing voter dissatisfaction with the LDF and a consolidation of support for the UDF. Analysts suggest that these outcomes could set the tone for future elections in the state, challenging the LDF’s long-standing influence in several districts.