The CPI(M)’s Kerala state committee, while reviewing the setback in the recent local body elections, attributed the LDF’s defeat primarily to organisational shortcomings and a sense of complacency within the party. The leadership acknowledged that despite several welfare and development initiatives, the party failed to effectively communicate government achievements to voters at the grassroots level.

Senior leaders openly criticised delays in taking disciplinary action against A. Padmakumar in the Sabarimala gold theft case. This hesitation, they felt, allowed the UDF to project the CPI(M) as lenient on corruption, creating distrust among voters. However, the assessment noted that this issue had only a limited impact in Malabar. A larger concern was unaddressed anti-incumbency in many local bodies, where party committees underestimated voter fatigue. This complacency contributed to losses in key urban corporations such as Kozhikode and Kollam, as well as several rural panchayats, where the UDF outperformed the LDF with 505 seats against 340.

The review also highlighted the decisive role played by minority voting patterns. Consolidation of Muslim votes in Malabar and a clear tilt of Christian voters towards the UDF in central Kerala proved damaging for the LDF. The leadership felt that the party’s perceived reluctance to strongly counter SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan’s controversial remarks alienated Muslim voters further. While the CPI(M) managed to counter BJP narratives in certain pockets, resulting in some LDF victories, it failed to mount a consistent defence against broader political attacks, leading to the loss of control over many local bodies.

Although the NDA’s vote share declined to 14.5 per cent, the UDF effectively capitalised on the erosion of LDF support. The committee called for a deeper examination of why development-oriented policies failed to attract minority communities, stressing the need for course correction ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.