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<p data-start="222" data-end="666"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor on Saturday welcomed the outcome of the Kerala local body elections, describing the results as a strong democratic mandate and a reflection of the state&rsquo;s vibrant political ethos. While lauding the Congress-led United Democratic Front&rsquo;s improved performance across Kerala, Tharoor also acknowledged the BJP&rsquo;s breakthrough in the state capital as a significant shift in the political landscape.</span></p>
<p data-start="668" data-end="1073"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a post on X, Tharoor congratulated the UDF for what he termed an impressive showing in local bodies, noting that the results sent a clear signal ahead of the next Kerala Assembly elections. He attributed the alliance&rsquo;s gains to sustained grassroots work, a coherent political message and prevailing anti-incumbency, adding that the UDF had performed far better than it did in the 2020 local body polls.</span></p>
<p data-start="1075" data-end="1535"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the same time, Tharoor openly acknowledged the BJP&rsquo;s historic showing in Thiruvananthapuram, where the party emerged as the single-largest force in the 101-member municipal corporation. The BJP secured 50 wards, falling just one short of a majority, while the ruling Left Democratic Front suffered a sharp setback with 29 seats. The UDF won 19 wards, with two seats going to Independents and polling in one ward cancelled following the death of a candidate.</span></p>
<p data-start="1537" data-end="1957"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even as the BJP surged in the capital, the UDF retained a clear statewide edge, leading in 7,869 wards across Kerala. The CPI(M)-led LDF was ahead in 6,505 wards, while the BJP-led NDA led in 1,426 wards, underscoring a fractured but evolving electoral map. Celebrations among UDF workers reflected this confidence, with visuals from Kochi showing party supporters raising slogans, waving flags and dancing to drumbeats.</span></p>
<p data-start="1959" data-end="2459"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The political moment around Tharoor has also drawn attention beyond the election results. On the same day, the Congress MP declined to accept the Veer Savarkar International Impact Award, stating that he had neither been consulted nor consented to receiving it and that there was insufficient clarity about the nature of the award and the organisation conferring it. Tharoor made it clear he would not attend the ceremony, stressing that announcing his name without prior agreement was inappropriate.</span></p>
<p data-start="2461" data-end="2926" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The refusal adds another layer to Tharoor&rsquo;s positioning at a time when Kerala politics appears to be entering a phase of churn. As the UDF looks to convert its local body momentum into a broader political resurgence and the BJP signals its arrival as a serious force in the capital, Tharoor&rsquo;s remarks and decisions underscore both the competitive intensity of the moment and the larger debates shaping Kerala&rsquo;s political future ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.</span></p>
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Tharoor Welcomes Poll Mandate, Flags Shift

Congress MP hails UDF surge, notes BJP’s capital win and declines Savarkar award

Tharoor Welcomes Poll Mandate, Flags Shift

Congress MP hails UDF surge, notes BJP’s capital win and declines Savarkar award

December 13, 2025 | 23:27 IST