New Delhi: Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) MP in the Rajya Sabha, John Brittas has hit back as the creation of what he has termed the “narrative” being spun around the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won more than the Left Democratic Front (LDF) or the United Democratic Front (UDF). BJP won 50 of 101 wards, with the LDF winning just 29 and the UDF 19. Two wards went to ‘Others’.Calling the moment “watershed” in Kerala’s politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media that “the development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our party”. Thank you Thiruvananthapuram!The mandate the BJP-NDA got in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics.The people are certain that the development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our Party.Our Party will work towards…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2025Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor termed the BJP’s performance as “historic” drawing sarcastic comments and ire from even UDF supporters, which he hit back at, going as far as calling some of them on social media “cretins”.Now, Brittas has joined the debate, acknowledging, “Yes, Left received a setback in Local Body elections in Kerala” while questioning, “What’s the reality behind the so-called “watershed” adjective of the PM and “historic performance of BJP” by the CWC [Congress Working Committee] member Shashi Tharoor regarding the BJP performance in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation?”Also read: Kerala Local Body Election Results Ring Alarm Bells in the Left’s Last BastionThe Left has been winning the corporation polls in the city for the past four decades, so its loss is no doubt significant.But, Brittas has pulled out data from the 2024 general elections to show how the vote for the BJP and UDF has come down.He argued that the BJP slipped by 1,65,891 votes.Congress, in the same vein, lost 1,25,984 votes and the Left, increased the number of votes polled by 1,67, 522 votes, he mentioned.Yes, Left received a setback in Local Body elections in Kerala. But what’s the reality behind the so-called “watershed” adjective of the PM and “historic performance of BJP” by the CWC member Shashi Tharoor regarding the BJP performance in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation?Lok… pic.twitter.com/NycnYQlVCe— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) December 15, 2025Taking a swipe at Modi and Tharoor and the big media, he quipped, “Content is not relevant but the narrative.”The LDF has faced a setback in the local polls in Kerala which should ring alarm bells for it before assembly polls due in spring next year. Those who do well in local body polls are usually tipped to win the state assembly. The LDF though bucked the trend of alternating fronts seizing power in the state every five years in 2021 when they won the polls, making this the tenth year in power in the state.