Initial figures had given the impression that the BJP would put up an impressive performance. But a close look at the final figures tell a different tale.

The BJP's performance has been poor in the northern districts of Kerala like Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode, where the CPI(M) is the dominant force. In traditional strongholds like Kasargode district and Palakkad, the party's hopes of improving the show have not materialized.

In Kasargode, the BJP just about managed to retain the 11 seats it had won in the 2005 polls in the municipality. The same was the story in panchayats in Kasargode with the party managing to retain the 5 seats it had won in 2005.

The party did well in southern and central districts of the State like Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur - new areas where the party has been able to do well. .

In Palakkad, it won only 15 seats as against the 16 it held in the municipality in 2005. The major gain for the BJP was the victory of former municipal chairperson Devayani, who had joined the party after leaving the Congress before the elections.

In Kozhikode Corporation, the BJP lost the only seat it had. In 2005, the BJP had won one seat in the Corporation, two seats in the Koilandy municipality. In total, it had 14 seats in the district. This time it has come down to 10. The only silver lining has been that in Koilandy municipality it has increased its seats from 2 to 3.Out of the 1335 gram panchayat wards, the BJP's share is a measly 7.

The debacle in Kozhikode district is a personal setback for State BJP president V Muralidharan, who hails from the district.

The party recorded its best performance in Thiruvananthapuram district. In the Corporation, the BJP, which had only one seat in the 2005 polls, bagged as many as seven seats, including one party-backed independent. One of the BJP candidates scored an upset victory by defeating KC Vikraman of the CPI(M) who could have become the deputy mayor if he had won. In Nedumangad municipality, the BJP won 2 seats and the independents 2. Here the LDF won 18 seats and the UDF 17. The support of the BJP and the Independents will prove crucial for any front wanting to rule the municipality.

The party put up a better performance in the Thrissur corporation. As against the one seat it had in 2005, this time, the party romped home the winner in 2 seats. In Kodungallur and Kunnamkulam municipalities, the party won 6 and 5 seats respectively this time as against its tally of 4 and 5 in 2005. Besides, the party has opened its account in four gram panchayats in the districts as well. The BJP's performance is impressive as it has come in the wake of a split in the party's Thrissur unit. Also, the party will have as many as 50 representatives in the gram panchayats in the district - a distinct improvement over the position last time.

In Shoranur municipality in Palakkad district, a stronghold of the CPI(M), the BJP, which had only one seat in 2005, now has three.

In Pathanamthitta district, the BJP bagged two seats in the municipality against the one it had in 2005.

The upshot of it all is that while the lotus is not exactly blooming in the state, it has not wilted either to the chagrin of the secular forces. The fact that the BJP has been able to extend its influence to new areas must cause concern among all the secular parties. (IPA)