CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l sunday l december 14, 2025 l `12.00 l PAGES 26 l LATE city EDITION 8 4 KOZ 34 26 13 3 KNR 15 36 4 1 2 1 1 0 0 10 0 0 0 Anti-incumbency against the 10-year Left rule in the state 26 Campaign by UDF and BJP over Sabarimala gold theft influenced the masses 64 6 TIE 33 OTH 11 Total 63 Total Total NDA TCR 87 4 941 Total LDF 6 152 340 UDF 46 What went wrong for LDF GRAMA PANCHAYATS 505 TIE 20 14 7 OTH KOC 7 79 LDF 1 TIE 12 OTH 27 NDA 16 LDF KLM 28 NDA OTH TIE UDF 54 2 TIE 50 OTH 19 BLOCK PANCHAYATS NDA 29 DIST PANCHAYATS UDF LDF NDA LDF TVM MUNICIPALITIES UDF CORP LDF UDF NDA OTH UDF COPRPORATION - 6 UDF - 4  LDF- 1  NDA -1  CPM targeting Jamaat-eIslami led to minority consolidation *Results at the time of going to print. Final tally may vary surprise, suRprise !  Riding a strong anti-incumbency wave, Congress-led UDF scores big in local body elections  LDF loses four city corporations it held BJP takes Thiruvananthapuram A n i l S @ T’Puram Local body elections often signal the shifting political trends in Kerala. On Saturday, political Kerala witnessed one of the most striking comebacks of recent times, with the Congress-led UDF recording a decisive victory in the local body elections, and the ruling LDF suffered a surprise and potentially debilitating setback. Compounding the CPM’s woes, the BJP-led NDA quite emphatically snatched the prestigious Thiruvanathapuram city corporation from its hands in a victory that has the potential to fuel the saffron party’s growth in Kerala in the coming years. Riding on a strong anti-incumbency wave, the UDF registered a resounding victory win, ning four out of six municipal corporations, seven district panchayats, 54 municipalities, 79 block panchayats and around 505 grama panchayats. The LDF suffered a humiliating defeat, as it lost four sitting municipal corporations, as many district panchayats, more than 100 grama panchayats, and around 20 municipalities. However, the biggest takeaway of the 2025 local body elections is the win that the BJP s c r i p t e d i n T h i r u va n a n thapuram corporation. Spurred by the party national leadership’s long-term desire to win the civic body in the state capital, the NDA secured 50 out of 100 wards that went to polls — a substantial rise from the 34 seats it held in the previous Left campaign over Rahul Mamkootathil fiasco failed to yield desired results NDA workers celebrate the front’s victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation near the counting centre at Mar Ivanios College on Saturday | B P Deepu Historic victory for BJP in state capital The poll results have triggered infighting within the CPM, In a major upset, the BJP cap- while the BJP camp is elated tured the Thiruvananthapuram over its best-ever performance city corporation, ending the in the city corporation. LDF’s over four-decade-long Soon after the verdict, Prime dominance in the state capital. Minister Narendra Modi took The verdict marks the BJP’s to social media, hailing the parmost significant local body vic- ty’s performance in the corpotory in Kerala to date, ration and thanking while the UDF also regthe voters. istered a notable imBJP Thiruvananprovement in its seat thapuram Central distally . trict president KaraFo r m e r D G P R mana Jayan said the Sreelekha, BJP former capital city would now district chief V V witness a new phase Rajesh and senior of development. leader Karamana “There was a strong Ajith are the frontnexus between the runners for the mayUDF and the LDF. The mandate the or’s post. Their plan was for the BJP-NDA got in The election outUDF to capture the Thiruvanancome is being widely BJP wards, and then thapuram Corporation is a interpreted as a rehelp the LDF return flection of strong an- watershed moment to power. Ward delimti-incumbency senti- in Kerala’s politics. itation was also carThe people are ments against the ried out in a manner certain that the Left government and that suited them. development the outgoing LDF adHowever, people came aspirations of the ministration which out in large numbers state can only be has ruled the corpoand voted for us as addressed by our Party. r at i o n fo r ye a r s. they have lost faith in While the BJP imLDF governance,” he PM Narendra Modi on X proved its tally in the said. 101-ward corporation, Meanwhile, CPM from 34 in 2020 to 50, the LDF Thiruvananthapuram district went down to 29 from the previ- secretary V Joy described the ous 51. The Congress-led UDF, defeat in the corporation as “tomeanwhile, improved its per- tally unexpected”. He said the formance, winning 19 wards — LDF lost around 16 to 17 “sure an increase from 10 last time. seats” to the UDF.  ● More on P7 S h a i n u M o h a n @T’Puram UDF activists in a jubilant mood following the front’s victory in the polls held to the Kochi corporation on Saturday | T P Sooraj council. The BJP win invited applause from the party top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called it a watershed moment in Kerala politics. “The people are certain that development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our party,” Modi posted on X. The election outcome, widely perceived as a precursor to the assembly elections just a few months away, have come as a major confidence booster for the UDF, while it has obviously set the alarm bells ringing for the LDF. None would have thought that a battered and bruised UDF, reeling under the recent Rahul Mamkoottathil fiasco, would emerge a winner. On the other hand, the NDA, which was struggling to find a foothold in state politics, has managed to prove itself a formidable opponent to both fronts. In an election that was seen as a referendum on the decadelong CPM-led rule under Pinarayi Vijayan, the LDF was We see this as a major victory and it is the result of the work of Team UDF. The CPM had adopted BJP’s communal agenda, which ultimately benefited the latter, particularly in T’Puram. The public response has energised the UDF ahead of the assembly polls — V D Satheesan, Congress banking mainly on the recent increase in social welfare pensions to win people’s mandate, while its cyber team focused on the Mamkootathil issue. The voters, however, were in no mood to take the bait, and chose to hand the Left a resounding defeat that’s sure to trigger an intense introspection. On the other hand, the UDF and the NDA based their campaign on the Sabarimala gold theft, which seems to have yielded desired results. The LDF could not achieve the expected results. The front expected a comfortable win across the state. The reasons will be examined in detail and necessary corrections will be made... NDA’s win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a matter of concern — Pinarayi Vijayan, CM As h u t o s h A c h a r ya @ Salt Lake Stadium stands WITH THIS ISSUE The Wars Behind the War PLUS 12 P AGES All for a glimpse of Messi. For a Messi fan, it’s all that matters. As soon as I reached the gates of the Salt Lake Stadium at 8.30 am, fatigue from overnight journey just disappeared. The stadium was draped in Argentina colours, with people in jerseys with Messi written on their backs. There were giant cutouts and paintings of him as well. Fans from across the country were there. My ticket allowed me to one part of the stands. More than 60,000 fans would have gathered inside by 10.30 am. There was a cultural programme highlighting India and Argentina, followed by a friendly football match between Diamond Harbour Club and Mohun Bagan. Fans were kept engaged, but as soon as the announcer hollered in stadium PA system that Messi would be entering, at around 11.30 am, excitement quickly turned into a frenzy Fans began climbing the . barriers placed in front of the stands to catch a glimpse of the World Cup winner. As Messi entered the stadium in a car, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suárez, things started getting out of hand. Fans were delirious. However, the scenes turned chaotic after guests in the cordoned-off VVIP area crowded around Messi, blocking his view. All of a sudden the situation went out of control and Messi and his entourage were escorted out of the stadium. Word spread that Messi had left. This sparked anger. Bottles were hurled onto the field, banners were torn down, and the situation deteriorated. Fans began breaking chairs and throwing them in the s t a d i u m . S eve r a l p e o p l e breached barricades and entered the ground. Makeshift tents were overturned, chairs smashed. Fans turned violent after Lionel Messi suddenly left the Salt Lake Stadium due to security reasons | PTI Atmosphere electric as city salutes soccer royalty E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Messi in Hyderabad | vinay madappu Bengal CM orders high level probe Stating that she was shocked and deeply disturbed by mismanagement” at the Leo Messi’s event, CM Mamata Banerjee announced the constitution of a high-level panel to probe incident. “I am constituting an enquiry panel under the chairmanship of Justice (Rtd) Ashim Kumar Rahul joins the fun Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined Messi and Reddy at the felicitation towards the end of the event, posing for photos in front of the sponsorship hoardings. Earlier, Messi took a tour of the stadium. He will reach Mumbai on Sunday for his third leg of the GOAT Tour 2025 Hyderabad put its best foot forward on Saturday by ensuring that the visit of Lionel Messi to India was a resounding success. While the football was limited to an exhibition match between Team Revanth Reddy Singareni and Apar na All Stars, playing for Messi, the atmosphere was electric at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal. The stadium and its vicinity turned into a roaring cauldron of song, colour and belief on a night Hyderabad came to salute football royalty. First, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy stepped onto the pitch with his team, drawing loud cheers. A while later, Messi appeared, first watching quietly from the sidelines, smiling at the noise he had summoned without touching the ball. When he finally walked onto the field, the stadium erupted. Phones went up, voices cracked, and the stadium shook. Messi waved, took in the scene, and soon offered flashes of the touch that has defined a generation. He was joined by Luis Suárez and Rod- Loss of support from Christian community in central Kerala CPM’s attempts to appease community leaders like SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan backfired Record ‘ties’ spark curiosity Kochi: Amid the UDF wave across the state, the local body polls have seen an unusual surge in tied contests, necessitating a draw of lots to decide the front that would take the reins in dozens of LSG institutions. P7 In Kerala Cong battle, Joseph trumps Jose Kottayam: In the elections that drew attention due to the rivalry between Kerala Congress factions in Central Travancore, the P J Joseph faction has made notable progress under the wings of UDF, while the KC(M) suffered an unexpected setback in its strongholds. P4 INSIDE Satheesan’s calculus, LDF slip and a UDF wave | P4 Pinarayi’s invincibility myth breaks as LDF strategy falters | P4 Revelling in T’Puram corporation win, BJP ignores bruises | P4 The waqf effect? munambam switches to NDA | P5 IUML has ITS WAY as CPM SLIPS on Muslim pitch | P6 “This result (in T’Puram corp) shows people have accepted BJP’s development vision... Congress may celebrate its gains over LDF, but that is only a temporary outcome driven by anti-incumbency votes ... LDF is rapidly losing relevance in Kerala’s political landscape — Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP Mess in Bengal, grace in Hyd No glimpse of Messi leads to paying public rage Last-minute welfare measures, announced days before the election, failed to influence voters rigo De Paul, with Revanth alongside them, a tableau that blurred lines between sport, spectacle and dream. For the record, Revanth found the net once and Messi twice. After the exhibition game ended, Messi made a slow lap of the ground, turning the moment into something personal. A gentle kick sent the ball sailing into the stands, triggering a scramble of joy At the football . clinics, young players shared the pitch with the legend, exchanging crisp tiki-taka passes. The loudest applause came when a child joined Messi on the grass, the two sharing a brief, unguarded moment that drew smiles across the stadium. Addressing the crowd in Spanish, Messi kept it simple. “I feel very happy and grateful to see so many people, and I am very happy to be in Hyderabad,” he said. Suárez and Guido Rodríguez echoed the sentiment, speaking of their delight at being part of The GOAT India Tour. The evening closed with a brief felicitation on the field by Revanth and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Resolution in US House against 50% tariff on India J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Three Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have introduced a resolution seeking to terminate tariffs of up to 50% imposed by President Donald Trump on imports from India, calling the measures illegal and harmful to the US economy and bilateral relations. Representatives Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey and Raja Krishnamoorthi tabled the resolution on Friday If at all . the resolution is adopted, it would end the national emergency declared on August 6, 2025, under which the tariffs were imposed, and roll back the additional duties levied on Indian goods. The tariffs were invoked under the Inter national Emergency Economic Powers Act. They began with a 25% levy in August and were later supplemented with “secondary” duties, pushing effective rates to as high as 50% on several categories of Indian imports. The lawmakers said the tariffs have disrupted supply chains and increased costs for American consumers and businesses.