KANNUR: The LDF retained the Mattannur municipality for the fifth consecutive time with a thumping victory. It won all its 20 sitting seats and also captured seven from the UDF and secured the newly-created ward. The UDF could retain only half of the previous number of seats it had in 2012. The BJP, which fielded candidates in 32 seats and the SDPI which fielded eight candidates, couldn’t get any of them. The CPM won 23 seats whereas the other LDF allies-- CPI, CMP, Janata Dal, INL and Independent-- won one seat each. In the UDF, the Congress won four and Muslim League three. Elannur, Kolari, Mettadi, Kalaroad, Nalankeri, Aanikkari, Uthiyoor wards were captured by the LDF from the UDF. In the new Kalloor ward, CPM candidate N.P. Sujatha won by 317 votes.
The highest victory margin was recorded in Edavelikkal ward where CPM’s V.K. Rathnakaran won by 671 votes. The lowest margin was recorded in Beram ward where M. Mubeena of Muslim League won by 32 votes. Out of the 11 sitting councillors, nine retained their seats whereas two from the UDF tasted defeat. Out of the seven UDF councillors, six are women. The results are satisfactory for the BJP though it did not win a seat. During the 2012 election, it finished second in only two wards whereas this time it came second in nine wards. Out of them, the UDF came third in seven wards and the LDF last in two wards.
