Kollam: Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and Kasaragod were once considered as the BJP’s biggest strongholds. This difference was also evident in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. But this time around, the BJP has not gained much in any of these districts when the local body election results come out, instead they have proved their strength in Kollam district, which claims to be the stronghold of the Left.
In 2015, BJP had won 81 Gramapanchayat seats along with 5 Muncipal Wards and 2 city councils at Kollam. While by 2020, the BJP-NDA seats in the district became almost doubled in number. They were able to win 151 GramaPanchayat seats along with 2 block panchayat seats and 13 Municipal wards. They also won six seats in the city council.
The BJP, who won only 88 wards in 2015, has won 172 wards and 2 block panchayat seats in 2020. It became the largest single party in two panchayats. In Neduvathur, which was considered as the stronghold of the Left, it became the largest single party with 7 seats. In Kalluvathukal panchayath, it became the single party with 9 seats.
The cashew region of Kollam which the stronghold of the Left Front is where the BJP is showing clear growth. The alliance with the BDJS is also believed to have helped BJP. With the win, BJP hopes that this performance will help them in the 2021 Assembly Elections.
