Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF has secured an upper hand in the local bodies’ bypolls, the results of which were announced on Friday. Of the 30 wards to which bypolls were held, the LDF won 16, UDF 12, RMP one and independent one.
Though two independents won, Shahina who was elected from the 16th ward of Kavannoor panchayat of Malappuram was supported by the CPM.
The UDF wrested five wards from the LDF and the LDF four from the former. The BJP could not win any seat. One UDF rebel won from the district court ward in Alappuzha municipality. B. Mehboob, who was the councillor representing the ward, had resigned following differences with the party.
The CPM suffered a severe blow again in the Onchiyam soil, which has been the stronghold of murdered RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan who had left the party following opposition with the leadership.
P. Sreejith of RMP retained the fifth ward of Onchiam grama panchayat. He defeated LDF candidate Rajaram Thaipally by 308 votes. State leaders of the CPM had campaigned here for poet and cultural activist Thaipally who fought a prestigious battle for the CPM. The bypolls were held in Ochiyam following the death of panchayat member A.G. Gopinath of the RMP.
A significant victory was by CPM candidate Sudhakumari who won the Puthuserri west of Ranni panchayat in Pathanamthitta, which was rocked recently by the Sabarimala protests.
