BJP's hopes dimmed in the Pandalam local body elections where it once held power. The party's seat tally dropped sharply from 18 seats in 2020 to just 9 this time. BJP had banked on Sabarimala-related sentiments to rally Hindu voters, but the strategy failed spectacularly. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) made gains, especially in nearby Kulanada, where it won 8 wards compared to BJP-led NDA's 4. The United Democratic Front (UDF) managed only a single seat there. Pandalam’s politics have been closely linked to Sabarimala, the famous hill shrine. BJP rose to power here after the 2018 protests about women entering the temple. This time, the party hoped the Sabarimala gold scam would boost Hindu support. That plan backfired, leaving BJP leaders puzzled. A senior BJP official said, "A detailed analysis is yet to be done, but the results underline the urgent need to strengthen the party at the grassroots." The BJP’s poor result is due to multiple mistakes, including poor candidate choices, weak party work, and failure to offer a strong alternative to voters. Another senior source added, "Beyond Sabarimala, the BJP had little to showcase. Internal dissent over candidate selections and growing friction with the RSS only added to the woes." In the Sabarimala ward of the Ranni–Perunad panchayat, BJP finished third. There, the LDF won the seat by a coin toss and took 10 seats overall. This marks a sharp decline for the BJP in a region once seen as its stronghold.