Kottayam: The monopoly enjoyed by the UDF in Idukki district has been broken by the LDF in the local body polls. The ‘Penpilai Orumai’ and the High Range Samrakshana Samithi (HRSS) have also made their presence felt.
Of the 16 district panchayat divisions, the UDF won 10 and the LDF six. Two independents won the other two seats. In 2010, the UDF had won all the 16 seats.
The UDF retained the Thodupuzha municipality and captured the newly- constituted Kattapana municipality.
The HRSS candidates who contested as LDF independents put up a strong show in Kattapana municipality by winning five seats.
Of the eight seats in the block panchayat, the UDF retained only six seats, whereas in 2010, it had captured all the eight.
The LDF and the Penpilai Orumai won one seat each. The LDF improved its seat share in the grama panchayat by winning 22 seats as against 11 in 2010. The UDF strength was reduced to 30 from the 42 in 2010.
In block panchayat, the ‘Pembilai Orumai’ made its mark with Ms Gomathy Augustine, one of the architects of the strike, winning the Nallathanny division defeating Mr R. Karuppa Swamy of the UDF by 1,239 votes. Last time, he had won from there by 274 votes.
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