Synopsis: Kerala is set for a high-stakes political contest this December, with the State Election Commission announcing the schedule for the local body polls. The elections, to be held in two phases across 1,199 local bodies and 23,576 wards, will serve as a crucial litmus test ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls just a few months later. For the LDF, the polls are a test of strength after five years of dominance. For the UDF, they represent an opportunity to ride an anti-incumbency wave and stage a comeback. For the BJP, it is a chance to demonstrate whether its growing urban presence can translate into local power.

Kerala is entering another high-stakes electoral season, with the State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the schedule for the 2025 local body polls, an exercise widely se

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