Fri Feb 28 10:22:02 UTC 2025: ## LDF’s Strong Showing in Kerala By-elections Boosts CPI(M)’s Confidence for Upcoming Local Body Polls

**Thiruvananthapuram, February 28, 2025** – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has expressed confidence in the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) prospects in the upcoming Kerala local body elections, citing the results of recent by-elections as a positive indicator.

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan announced that the LDF secured victory in 17 out of 30 contested wards across 13 districts, garnering 44% of the total votes. The United Democratic Front (UDF) won 12 wards with 37% vote share, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win any wards, its vote share plummeting to a mere 16%.

Govindan accused the Congress of strategically directing votes towards the SDPI and BJP in several wards to undermine the LDF’s performance. He highlighted instances where Congress vote share significantly dropped while SDPI and BJP vote shares simultaneously increased. He further alleged that this tactic was previously employed by the Congress in the 2024 Thrissur Lok Sabha elections and the 2016 Nemom Assembly elections.

Despite losing some wards to the UDF, Govindan emphasized that the LDF significantly improved its vote share in many of those wards. He cited the CPI(M)’s strong performance in Karunagapally municipality as evidence against claims of internal strife within the party in Kollam district.

The CPI(M) views the by-election results as a significant boost to their campaign strategy for the upcoming local body elections in 2025 and the Assembly elections in 2026.

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