THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP has made its largest ever political foot print in Kerala when the results of the election to the local self-government institutions were announced here on Saturday.

The most impressive among the performance of BJP was in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. BJP amassed 35 seats in the 100 seat corporation council and thus become the second largest political force in the corporation. BJP had only six members in the last corporation council ruled by the CPM led LDF . The BJP which had their presence only in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam corporations in the state in the recent past has opened account in all corporations, except Kannur in this election.

The party won two seats each in Kollam and Ernakulam city corporations and won six and seven seats respectively in Thrissur and Kozhikode city corporations. According to statistics available till 1.30 pm, BJP has the majority to rule one municipality, and 14 grama panchayaths in Kerala, which again is another record. Till now, the BJP did not get the majority seats in even a single gram panchayath outside Kasargodu.

Immediately after the result of the election result trend was over, BJP state president V Muraleedharan said one of the main reasons for the political surge of BJP was the minority appeasement policies followed by both LDF and UDF in the state. According to him, the party has not yet taken a decision on offering or accepting any political support to either LDF or UDF in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The CPM-led LDF that has been ruling the corporation has won only 45 seats this time. The UDF tally is only 21. There are three independent candidates and two of them are UDF rebels. The minimum seats required for any political combine is 51.