Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 13: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has hailed the results of the Kerala local body elections as a clear endorsement of its policies, with leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge launching a strong critique of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Rahul Gandhi described the outcome as “decisive and heartening,” emphasizing that it reflected growing public trust in the UDF ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. He highlighted that the verdict showed Kerala’s desire for accountable governance, with a focus on delivering for the people.

Congress President Kharge thanked Kerala voters for the strong UDF mandate, expressing confidence that the alliance would receive similar support in the upcoming Assembly elections.

K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, was more combative, calling the result a rejection of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF, which he accused of becoming “corrupt, authoritarian, and anti-people.” He further predicted the fall of Left strongholds in the 2026 Assembly polls and claimed that voters had rejected the BJP’s divisive politics.

The UDF made significant gains in districts traditionally considered LDF strongholds, signaling strong anti-incumbency sentiment. Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed that the UDF would continue focusing on the concerns of citizens and work towards transparent governance. The UDF now positions itself as the key challenger to the Left government, underscoring the demand for change and accountability in Kerala.