Fri Dec 26 10:19:58 UTC 2025: ## BJP Secures Historic Win in Kerala Municipality

KOCHI, December 26, 2025 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated a landmark victory today as P.L. Babu was elected chairperson of the Tripunithura municipality in Ernakulam district, marking the party’s first time holding power in a municipality within the district. Radhika Varma was elected vice-chairperson later in the afternoon.

The election followed a hung verdict in the 53-member municipality, with the BJP-led NDA emerging as the single largest bloc with 21 seats. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 20 seats, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) trailed with 12.

The election for chairperson required two rounds of voting. In the initial round, candidates from the LDF and UDF also participated, but none secured the required majority. The UDF abstained from the second round, allowing Mr. Babu to win with 21 votes. The LDF candidate received 18 votes, with two votes declared invalid.

Mr. Babu, representing the Valiyathara ward, is a two-time councillor and currently serves as general secretary of the BJP central zone. Ms. Varma, a three-time councillor representing the Ambalam ward, is a member of the BJP State Council.

Analysts suggest that the BJP’s victory was aided by the failure of the LDF and UDF to form a coalition, despite their combined strength potentially preventing a BJP takeover. The LDF has historically dominated Tripunithura, securing a simple majority in the previous election.

The BJP’s rise in Tripunithura has been notable. The party first gained a seat in the municipality in 2010, increasing its presence to 13 seats in 2015 and dislodging the UDF as the main opposition. This growth continued in 2020, reaching 15 seats, with further gains in subsequent by-elections.

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