LDF Gains Ground in Kerala Local Body Bypolls, UDF Wins 19 of 38 Wards
Kerala's ruling UDF won 19 of 38 local body wards in bypolls across 12 districts, while the Opposition LDF took 18, wresting seven wards from the front.
The ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala won 19 of the 38 local body wards where by-elections were held across 12 districts, while the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 18, according to results declared on Tuesday.
The outcome, coming four months into the UDF government's term, marked a modest setback for the front. The LDF wrested seven wards from the UDF, two of which had been vacated by UDF sitting MLAs to contest the previous Assembly elections. The UDF, for its part, retained 15 wards and wrested four, while the LDF held on to 11.
In the previous local body elections in December last year, the UDF had won 22 of these seats, the LDF 15 and the National Democratic Alliance one. This time, Twenty20, a constituent of the NDA, won the Kolenchery East ward of the Poothrikka gramapanchayat in Ernakulam district.
One contest in the Chittur-Thathamanagalam municipality in Palakkad district was decided by drawing lots after both the UDF and LDF candidates polled 423 votes each. The ward had been vacated by UDF MLA Sumesh Achuthan, who was the municipality chairperson. In the Thrikodithanam division of the Kottayam district panchayat, vacated by Kerala Congress MLA Vinu Jacob, CPI(M) candidate Manju Sujith won by 2,140 votes.
The UDF also faced a setback in the Chirayinkeezhu Assembly constituency, from where Ramya Haridas had won. LDF candidate Bijimol S. took the Anchuthengu ward in the Chirayinkeezhu block panchayat by 359 votes, while LDF's Ramya V. Thulasi won the Mundakkal ward in Mangalapuram panchayat. Vamanapuram MLA Muhammed Sudheersha S. said the party would introspect the loss, which he attributed to a recent scuffle between Ms. Haridas and district panchayat member Sajith Muttappalam that appears to have hurt the UDF in the region.
The LDF made gains in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kannur districts, while the UDF won all four seats in Pathanamthitta district and wrested a ward in the Chelakkara panchayat in Thrissur district from the LDF. In the Sreekrishnapuram panchayat in Palakkad district, the UDF won a ward previously held by the LDF. The UDF retained wards such as Kuttichira in Kozhikode Corporation and Ayyappankkavu in Kochi Corporation, though by reduced margins.