Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3 (NationPress) In a significant shift from past practices, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has surged ahead in the race for the Kerala local body elections, unveiling its inaugural list of 48 candidates for the esteemed Thiruvananthapuram Corporation—well in advance of the official election announcement.

This proactive approach, unusual for a party often criticized for its slow starts, indicates a bold strategy by the Congress aimed at reclaiming its position in the state capital, which has been under the Left's influence for an extended period.

On Monday, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan initiated a UDF campaign rally intended to reach all 101 wards of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Veteran Congress figure and former state minister K. Muraleedharan, the son of the late Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, is spearheading the UDF’s campaign in the city.

In a surprising twist, the party has nominated former MLA K.S. Sabarinathan for the Kawdiar ward, located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram. This marks a historic moment as it is the first time in Kerala that a former legislator is contesting in a municipal corporation election, highlighting the Congress’s determination to present a serious and high-profile challenge.

The CPI-M has maintained control over the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for several terms, with the BJP emerging as the main opposition in the last two election cycles, while the Congress has found itself relegated to a distant third.

By announcing its candidates early and fielding prominent individuals, the Congress aims to shift the political landscape in the capital and convey a renewed sense of organizational discipline and preparedness.

The State Election Commission is anticipated to soon reveal the local body election schedule, which will encompass nearly all of Kerala’s 1,200 local self-government institutions—comprising 941 gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 87 municipalities, and six municipal corporations.

Only Mattannur Municipality, which adheres to a distinct electoral cycle, will not participate in this election.

In the 2020 local body elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) captured 40.2 percent of the vote, followed by the UDF with 37.9 percent, and the BJP-led NDA with 15 percent.

During that election, the Left secured 314 gram panchayats, 198 block panchayats, 11 district panchayats, 43 municipalities, and five corporations, while the UDF garnered 321, 38, three, 41, and one, respectively. The BJP claimed 19 gram panchayats and three municipalities.

Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a meeting with state BJP leaders, established a goal of 25 percent vote share for the NDA in Kerala—a statement that faced sharp criticism from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who cautioned citizens against what he termed a 'dangerous agenda'.

Regarded as the 'semi-finals' leading up to next year’s Assembly elections, the forthcoming local body polls are anticipated to serve as a vital gauge of grassroots political sentiment in Kerala, with all three major coalitions—the LDF, UDF, and NDA—preparing for a high-stakes electoral contest.