THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 15, 2025 — The upcoming Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election is shaping up to be a historic battle, with political observers suggesting that the Congress party is poised to break the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s [CPI(M)] long-standing dominance, thanks to the dynamic intervention of veteran leader K. Muraleedharan.
Muraleedharan, son of the late Congress stalwart K. Karunakaran, is being hailed as the party’s new ‘Kingmaker’ in Kerala. His reputation has significantly grown following his strategic success in the Telangana Assembly elections, where he served as the Congress Screening Committee Chairman and was instrumental in crafting a winning alliance and candidate list that culminated in the rise of Revanth Reddy as Chief Minister.
Muraleedharan is now deploying the very same ‘Telangana Model’ strategy to conquer the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
A New Momentum
With Muraleedharan taking charge of the local body elections, a visible surge of energy has revitalized Congress workers across the capital. This influx of vigorous activity has put the CPI(M) and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) on the back foot.
A key strategic move by Muraleedharan was proposing the name of young leader K. S. Sabarinathan as the party’s Mayoral candidate. This bold step has been met with significant public enthusiasm.
While the CPI(M) attempted damage control by denying tickets to the incumbent Mayor and Deputy Mayor, political analysts suggest that these measures are insufficient to curb the growing public dissatisfaction. The prevailing opinion is that the pulse of Thiruvananthapuram, accurately gauged by Muraleedharan, is indicating a clear shift that could end the CPI(M)’s unbroken winning streak in the Corporation.
The battle for the capital’s civic body is now viewed as a crucial test of Muraleedharan’s strategic prowess and a potential precursor to a wider Congress resurgence in Kerala.
