Congress-LDF tieups, friendly contests prove fatal for UDF
The BJP vote would be crucial in taking administrative decisions
MALAPPURAM: The friendly contests between the Congress and IUML across the district, rebels and the LDF strategy to form a joint forum - namely Janakeeya Vikasana Munnani - at various local bodies roping in unhappy Congress rebels proved costly for the UDF.
The LDF managed to make inroads in the IUML fortresses resulting in the defeat of the League in Tirur, Ponnani, Parappanangadi and Kondotti municipalities. The IUML bit the dust even at the ward of education minister P. K. Abdu Rabb.
In Tirur, the LDF won 19 municipal wards, the UDF 18 and the BJP one. The BJP vote would be crucial in taking administrative decisions.
In a shocker to the UDF and LDF, the BJP emerged as the main opposition winning eight wards in the 44-member Tanur municipality where the UDF won 28 seats. The LDF-Congress independents won eight seats.
The Congress-IUML independent alliances also proved a success in winning Parappanangadi municipality. The UDF won 20 seats where as the alliance won 18 seats, the LDF three and BJP four. The BJP votes emerged crucial in the civic body.
In the 40-member Kondotti municipality, another IUML citadel, the UDF won 20 seats where as the LDF-Congress independent front won 17 and the LDF alone won three. It is almost equal strength in the civic body where hectic behind-the-curtain lobbying is on to rope in the support of some independent winners.
Though the IUML won the district panchayat winning 25 wards of the total 32, the victory of the Congress-LDF independent alliances in two municipalities and increased presence of the BJP are a headache for the IUML.
In 2010, the UDF had won 30 district panchayat wards where as the LDF had only two seats. The UDF won six municipalities in total whereas the LDF won four and the LDF-Congress alliance two.
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