Sat Dec 06 04:09:58 UTC 2025: Summary:

Malappuram district, a traditional stronghold of the IUML-backed UDF, is gearing up for local body elections on December 11th. The UDF is confident of retaining its dominance and potentially seizing more seats from the LDF. The UDF is campaigning on the perceived failures of the current LDF government, while the LDF is emphasizing its development achievements. The UDF currently controls the majority of local bodies, but the LDF is strategically targeting specific municipalities and block panchayats to improve its position. The election will feature increased wards and a larger voter population due to recent delimitation. Both fronts face challenges from independent candidates and internal rebels, which could significantly impact the election outcome.

News Article:

UDF Poised to Maintain Grip on Malappuram in Upcoming Local Body Polls

Malappuram, December 6, 2025 – As Malappuram district prepares for local body elections on December 11th, the United Democratic Front (UDF), particularly the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), is expressing strong confidence in retaining its dominance. The UDF aims to not only hold onto its existing control of local bodies but also to wrest additional seats from the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

The UDF currently governs 68 of the district’s 94 grama panchayats, a significant increase from the 63 it held in the 2020 elections. Abdurahman Randathani, IUML State secretary, attributes this rise to the UDF’s growing popularity over the past five years.

The UDF campaign focuses on what it calls the failures of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, while the LDF emphasizes its development initiatives. Although the UDF controls 9 out of 12 municipalities, the LDF is confident of retaining Perinthalmanna, Ponnani, and Nilambur, and has devised a strategy to potentially capture more municipalities.

Recent delimitation has increased the number of wards across all local body tiers, leading to a total of 2,789 wards and a voter population of 35.74 lakh.

While the UDF holds a strong position, both fronts face challenges from independent candidates and internal rebels. Analysts suggest these factors could play a crucial role in determining the final outcome of the elections. The Ponmundam grama panchayat remains the only exception in the UDF stronghold, where Congress and CPI(M) have allied against IUML. The IUML, however, says it’s confident of retaining it.

The outcome of these elections will be closely watched as an indicator of the political climate in the district and the broader state of Kerala.

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