The 2025 local body elections marked a definite turning point for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kollam, long considered an impenetrable stronghold of the Left.
These results reflect more than just a numerical gain; they signal a strategic penetration into rural and urban segments that were once politically inaccessible to the party.
The 2025 results show that the BJP’s static vote share from previous years has finally reached the point needed to convert support into seats. The BJP’s performance in the 2025 Kollam Corporation elections serves as the most compelling evidence of its upward trajectory, with the party doubling its tally from 6 seats in 2020 to 12 in 2025. This surge transformed the party from a marginal player to a decisive third force in city politics, a growth highlighted by the defeat of Mayor Vrabab in Lrabab.
That loss, along with other upsets, underscores a fundamental shift in urban voter sentiment. By retaining all the seats and adding six more, while finishing second in 9 other divisions, the BJP emerged as the top two contenders in nearly 40% of the company’s divisions. By securing the Kollam Corporation position, the party disrupted the current status quo, marking a dramatic decade-long rise from zero representation in 2010 to a double-digit presence today. The BJP’s expansion beyond the city limits into the rural heartland of Kollam is perhaps even more significant for its long-term prospects. In a historic breakthrough, the party opened its account in Kadakkal, an area long defined by its deep-seated commitment to the Left.
A similar victory in Punalur municipality, another traditional Left stronghold, demonstrates the party’s ability to penetrate regions where it previously lacked a functional organizational base.
This dynamic was further consolidated in panchayats like Neduvathur and Chirakkara where the BJP emerged as the single largest party signaling a profound shift in the political landscape of rural Kollam. The BJP leadership considers Kollam to be the district where the party has made the most significant strides after Thiruvananthapuram. According to S. Prasanth, BJP Kollam West president, the party has achieved a major breakthrough by increasing the number of seats in all assembly segments.
“By narrowing the gap to just four seats behind the LDF in the Corporation Council, we have consolidated our position as the primary stakeholder and transformed the political geometry of the city into a truly tripolar landscape,” he said.
He further noted that the party’s growing influence is evident in its second position in several block and district panchayat divisions, adding that they are particularly optimistic about their prospects in Chathannur, Kundara and Karunagappally assembly segments in the upcoming state elections. As Kerala moves towards the 2026 assembly polls, the BJP’s ‘Kollam model’ poses a significant challenge to the traditional bipolar dominance of the LDF and the UDF.
The party has successfully shed its image as an eccentric entity, proving that it can dismantle experienced leaders and win seats in the heart of the red belt.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 19:54 IST
