The United Democratic Front has faced a major setback in the Kerala local body polls, but the biggest blow for the front was in capital city Thiruvananthapuram.

While LDF emerged as the single largest party with 42 seats, the BJP shocked both the LDF and UDF by coming second winning 34 seats.

The UDF has been pushed to a third position winning just 21 seats.

The victory however will be bittersweet for the LDF as Jayan Babu, the man who was being projected as Mayoral candidate lost to his BJP rival S. Madhusoodanan Nair in the Pangode ward

Thiruvananthapuram MP and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor who had campaigned extensively for UDF candidates took to Twitter to ask the party to introspect on the groupism within.

Groupism has always been the Congress' bane in Kerala, like in many other states. Repeated fragmentation of the party and the clashes during candidate selection has become a regular feature for the UDF.

Tharoor wrote:

"Poor performance of UDF scross the state especially in Thiruvananthapuram calls for serious introspection within the party especially on groupism in candidate selection. UDF failure in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation compared to Municipal, Gram, Block & District Panchayat seats (especially given the LDF misgovernance for 40yrs) needs study.    

The rebel factor seems to have affected many seats, which should have been handled more effectively by the party and its selection committee."

Absolving himself from the situation, Tharoor said, "Candidates were fielded by the party, the MP had no role. I am confident the party will study the results and understand the reasons for failure. Local election results reflect local issues, cadre organizational commitment and local preferences for candidates, who should be chosen better. Though i had no official party role in the election or in candidate selection, am proud of my campaigning for UDF candidates as local MP."