Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant victory, the ruling LDF on Friday won 21 of the 39 wards in local bodies for which byelections were held across 14 disricts.
Coming as it is in the midst of Sabarimala controversy, the victory in local bodies has come as a shot in the arm for the LDF. Though the elections were fought on local issues, the Congress and BJP had consciously campaigned on the Sabarimala issue and targeted the government as “anti Hindu” and “anti devotee”. The Left leadership claimed that the people had rejected the false campaign.
The LDF won all five wards in Thrissur. The front retained four sitting seats and wrested a seat previously held by the BJP.
In Alappuzha, the BJP won two seats while the CPM, Congress and SDPI won one seat each. BJP won in ward numer 5 of Thakazhy panchayt and ward number 10 in Kavalam panchayat.
In Pathanamthitta, UDF rebel candidate won Kulasekharapathi ward in Pathanamthita municipality. However, LDF suffered defeat at the hands of SDPI candidate in Pandlam municipality.
In Idukki district, the UDF won two seats while an independent candidate supported by the CPI defeated the CPM rival in Kaipa ward of Kudayathur panchayat.
LDF and UDF won two seats in Kannur district. In Kasargod, the LDF retained its two wards. LDF candidate Indira won by 300 votes in Cheemeni panchayat. Biju Thayam of the same party secured a victory in Bedadaka panchayt by a margin of 543 votes.
In Thiruvananthapuram, UDF won the Kinavoor ward. Of the three seats UDF won two and LDF one. LDF candidate L. Chandrika came out victorious in Nellimoodu ward. Leena Rani won from ward number 1 of Vilakudi panchayat in Kollam district.
Kerala Congress candidate Benny Theurvath won the Ramapuram panchayat ward. Of the four wards for which elections were held in Malappuram district, LDF and UDF won two seats each. LDF trounced UDF in Uppuvalli ward. UDF retained two seas that it contested in Palakkad district. UDF defeated LDF in ward number 8 of Bathery municipality.
In Kozhikode, LDF retained Paleri division seat under Perambra block panchayat. Meanwhile, an official statement issued by Kerala State Election Commission said LDF won 20, UDF 11, BJP 2, SDPI 2, Kerala Congress M and Independents won in three seats.
