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{{Short description|Indian municipal elections}}

{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2015 Kerala Local Elections
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2010 Kerala local elections
| previous_year = 2010
| next_election = [[2020 Kerala local elections]]
| next_year = [[2020 Kerala local elections|2020]]
| election_date = 2, 5 November 2015
| seats_for_election = 1199 of 1200 local bodies in Kerala {{Efn|[[Mattanur]] municipality elections are held in a different cycle, hence elections to this municipality were not held in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-19|title=Explained: How has Kerala planned its three-tier local body elections?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-kerala-has-planned-its-three-tier-local-body-elections-6990612/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>|name=|group=}}
| 1blank = Grama Panchayat
| 2blank = Block Panchayat
| 3blank = District Panchayat
| 4blank = Municipality
| 5blank = Corporation
| turnout = 77.7% ({{increase}}%)
| alliance1 = {{legend2|{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|[[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|LDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
| 1data1 = 549
| 2data1 = 90
| 3data1 = 7
| 4data1 = 44
| 5data1 = 4
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 = 37.4%
| swing1 =
| alliance2 = {{legend2|{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|[[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
| 1data2 = 365
| 2data2 = 61
| 3data2 = 7
| 4data2 = 41
| 5data2 = 2
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 = 37.2%
| swing2 =
| alliance3 = {{legend2|{{party color|National Democratic Alliance (India)}}|[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
| 1data3 = 14
| 2data3 = 0
| 3data3 = 0
| 4data3 = 1
| 5data3 = 0
| seat_change3 =
| popular_vote3 =
| percentage3 = 13.3%
| swing3 =
| map_caption =
| map =
}}

Elections to local bodies (Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations) in [[Kerala]] were held in two phrases, on 2 and 5 November 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-10-04|title=Local body polls in Kerala to be held on November 2 and 5|language=en|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/local-body-polls-in-kerala-to-be-held-on-november-2-and-5/article7721259.ece|access-date=2020-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]] (LDF) won more than half of all [[gram panchayat]]s and [[Municipality|municipalities]], and both they and the [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF) won majorities in seven out of fourteen [[District Panchayat|district panchayats]] each. The LDF also won two [[Municipal corporation (India)|corporations]], the UDF won one, and the remaining three had no overall majority.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=BJP scores as LDF wins Kerala local elections|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-scores-as-ldf-wins-kerala-local-elections/articleshow/49705644.cms|access-date=2020-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-11-07|title=Kerala civic polls: LDF leads in 43, UDF 42 local bodies|url=https://www.india.com/news/india/kerala-panchayat-municipal-corporation-election-results-2015-ldf-leads-in-43-udf-42-civic-bodies-689714/|access-date=2020-09-26|website=India.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=LSGI Election - 2015|url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/en/lbelection/lbelection/2015}}</ref>

== Background ==
Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 made provisions for the creation of local bodies at the village, [[Block panchayat|block]] and district levels. The Kerala Municipalities Act, 1994 made provisions for the creation of municipalities and corporations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Business – Kerala Legislature|url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/bus_1_5.htm|access-date=2020-09-27|website=www.niyamasabha.org}}</ref>

In total, Kerala has 1200 local self-governing bodies{{snd}}941 gram panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 87 municipalities, 77 [[Tehsil|taluks]], and 6 corporations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Local Self-Governance – Government of Kerala, India|url=https://kerala.gov.in/local-self-governance#:~:text=Local%20Self-Governance%20Page&text=At%20present,%20there%20are%201200,Municipalities%20and%206%20Municipal%20Corporations|access-date=2020-09-27|website=kerala.gov.in}}</ref>

==Parties and coalitions==
There are three major political coalitions in Kerala. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is the coalition of left wing and far-left parties, led by the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)). The United Democratic Front (UDF) is the coalition of centrist and centre-left parties led by the [[Indian National Congress]]. The National Democratic Alliance is led by the right-wing [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].

== Campaign ==
Chief Minister [[Oommen Chandy]] said the election results would be a verdict on his government. Former Chief Minister [[A. K. Antony]] cited that the local body elections were the semifinals to the forthcoming [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016 elections]]. Allegations of the finance minister of the state [[K. M. Mani]] accepting bribes from bar owners was made a focal point of the campaign by opposition parties.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2015-06-05|title=Kerala Taking a Left Turn|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/45/reports-states-web-exclusives/kerala-taking-left-turn.html|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|language=en|pages=7–8}}</ref>

The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) forged an alliance with [[Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP)|SNDP]] in a bid to win the [[Ezhava]] community votes. UDF had rebel candidates in various panchayats and municipalities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Poll result means a lot for both fronts, BJP|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/politics/poll-result-means-a-lot-for-both-fronts-bjp-english-news-1.653148|access-date=2020-09-27|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Panchayat polls: Rebel threat worries UDF|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/election/2015/local-body/news/panchayat-polls-rebel-threat-worries-udf-english-news-1.609488}}</ref> [[Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam|Twenty20]], an organisation backed by Kitex Group contested in [[Kizhakkambalam|Kizhakkambalam grama panchayat]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=K|first=Nidheesh M.|date=2020-01-19|title=Inside India’s first corporate panchayat|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/inside-india-s-first-corporate-panchayat-11579449480244.html|access-date=2020-09-26|website=mint|language=en}}</ref>

{{Pie chart|caption='''Vote Share by alliance'''<ref name = "sec2015">{{Cite book|title=Election report, 2015|publisher=State Election Commission, Kerala|year=2016|location=Thiruvananthapuram|pages=24, 55, 56|url=http://sec.kerala.gov.in/images/electionreport2015.pdf}}</ref>|other=yes|value1=37.4|label1=[[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|LDF]]|color1={{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|value2=37.3|label2=[[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]]|color2={{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|value3=13.3|label3=[[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]]|color3={{party color|National Democratic Alliance (India)}}}}

== Result ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Districts
! colspan="2" |Voter Turnout<ref name = "sec2015"/>
|-
! {{nowrap|District wise map of Kerala}}
! District
! Percentage
|-

| rowspan ="14"| [[File:Political map of Kerala.svg|300px]]
|[[Kasaragod district|Kasaragod]]
|''77.6''
|-
|[[Kannur district|Kannur]]
|''78.9''
|-
|[[Wayanad district|Wayanad]]
|''81.5''
|-
|[[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]]
|''80.1''
|-
|[[Malappuram district|Malappuram]]
|''79.7''
|-
|[[Palakkad district|Palakkad]]
|''78.9''
|-
|[[Thrissur district|Thrissur]]
|''76.5''
|-
|[[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]]
|''78.5''
|-
|[[Idukki district|Idukki]]
|''79.7''
|-
|[[Kottayam district|Kottayam]]
|''78.3''
|-
|[[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]]
|''79.7''
|-
|[[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta]]
|''72.5''
|-
|[[Kollam district|Kollam]]
|''74.9''
|-
|[[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thriuvananthapuram]]
|''71.9''
|-
! colspan="2"|Kerala
! 77.8
|}

=== Local Body Wise Results ===
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://117.239.77.93/lbtrend/lbtrend2015/views/index.php|title=Local Body Elections Kerala – Trend 2015|access-date=2020-12-13|website=lbtrend|publisher=State Election Commission, Kerala}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
2015 Kerala local body elections
! rowspan="3" |Local self-government body
! colspan="4" |Local Bodies won
! rowspan="3" |Total
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|
| style="background:{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|
| style="background:{{party color|National Democratic Alliance}}|
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|
|-
!LDF
!UDF
!NDA
!Others
|-
|Gram Panchayats
|549
|365
|14
|13
!941
|-
|Block Panchayats
|90
|61
|0
|1
!152
|-
|District Panchayats
|7
|7
|0
|0
!14
|-
|Municipalities
|44
|41
|1
|0
!87
|-
|Corporations
|4
|2
|0
|0
!6
|}

=== Ward-Wise Results ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
2015 Kerala local body elections
! rowspan="3" |Local self-government body
! colspan="4" |Wards won
! rowspan="3" |Total
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|
| style="background:{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}|
| style="background:{{party color|National Democratic Alliance}}|
| style= "background:black|
|-
!LDF
!UDF
!NDA
!Others
|-
|Gram Panchayats
|7,623
|6,324
|933
|1,078
!15,962
|-
|Block Panchayats
|1,088
|917
|21
|53
!2,076
|-
|District Panchayats
|170
|145
|3
|4
!331
|-
|Municipalities
|1,263
|1,318
|236
|259
!3,122
|-
|Corporations
|196
|143
|51
|24
!414
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+
Municipal Corporations
! rowspan="3" |District
! rowspan="3" |Corporation
! colspan="4" |Wards won
! rowspan="3" |Total
! rowspan="3" |Alliance in majority
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}" |
| style="background:{{party color|United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}" |
| style="background:{{party color|National Democratic Alliance}}" |
| style="background:black" |
|-
!LDF
!UDF
!NDA
!Others
|-
|[[Thiruvananthapuram district|''Thiruvananthapuram'']]
|'''[[Thiruvananthapuram Corporation|Thiruvananthapuram]]'''
|43
|21
|35
|1
|'''100'''
|''Hung''
|-
|[[Kozhikode district|''Kozhikode'']]
|'''[[Kozhikode Municipal Corporation|Kozhikode]]'''
|50
|18
|7
|0
|'''75'''
|LDF
|-
|[[Ernakulam district|''Ernakulam'']]
|'''[[Kochi Municipal Corporation|Kochi]]'''
|23
|38
|2
|11
|'''74'''
|UDF
|-
|[[Kollam district|''Kollam'']]
|'''[[Kollam Municipal Corporation|Kollam]]'''
|36
|16
|2
|1
|'''55'''
|LDF
|-
|[[Thrissur district|''Thrissur'']]
|'''[[Thrissur Municipal Corporation|Thrissur]]'''
|23
|21
|6
|5
|'''55'''
|''Hung''
|-
|[[Kannur district|''Kannur'']]
|'''[[Kannur Municipal Corporation|Kannur]]'''
|26
|27
|0
|2
|'''55'''
|''Hung''
|}

== Aftermath ==
[[Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee|Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)]] president [[V. M. Sudheeran]] said that the results show that the UDF base had not been affected much.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UDF base not affected that much: Sudheeran|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/udf-base-not-affected-that-much-sudheeran-english-news-1.654917|access-date=2020-09-27|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref> BJP state president [[V. Muraleedharan]] stated that it was impossible to fight an election in Kerala without taking their alliance into account.<ref name=":0" />

Twenty20 won 17 of 19 seats in Kizhakkambalam gram panchayat, thereby becoming the first corporate-ruled local body in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|last =Shyam|first=P.V.|title=First corporate to fight polls sweeps Kerala panchayat |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/First-corporate-to-fight-polls-sweeps-Kerala-panchayat/articleshow/49706536.cms|access-date=2020-09-27|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

A Indian National Congress candidate for [[Mananthavady]] municipality, who was the Congress District Committee secretary, committed suicide after coming in third place.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vijayakumar|first=V.O.|title=Wayanad DCC secy P V John found hanging in party office|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/wayanad-dcc-secy-p-v-john-found-hanging-in-party-office-english-news-1.656627|access-date=2020-09-27|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Elections in Kerala]]
* [[2020 Kerala local body elections]]
* [[2011 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]]
* [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|117.239.77.93/lbtrend/lbtrend2015/views/index.php}}

{{Kerala elections}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:2015 Kerala local body elections| ]]
[[Category:2015 elections in India|Kerala local]]
[[Category:Local elections in Kerala|2015]]

2015 Kerala local elections - Revision history

MetaBOT at 18:40, 8 July 2023