THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling LDF had a slight edge in the local bodies’ bypoll held to 15 wards across the state for which the results were declared on Friday. By winning seven out of 15 seats, the LDF gained an upper hand. However, the opposition UDF also managed to hold on to its position winning five seats. BJP won three including the prestigious Pappanamcode ward in Thiruvanantha-puram corporation, yet again making its presence in electoral scene.
But the big story came from Kasargod where UDF secured a significant victory in Uduma ward of Kasargod district panchayat. The win helped UDF retain power in district panchayat. However, UDF lost power in Kokkyar panchayt in Idukki district following the loss in Mulamkunnu ward to LDF independent. BJP succeeded in retaining the Pappanamcode ward. Over all the results did not show any significant change in voting pattern since the Assembly polls.
BJP's Asha Nath won in the Pappanamcode ward by a thin majority of 35 votes in Pappanamcode, UDF's Shanavaz Padoor won with a margin of 1,886 votes in Uduma. The seven wards won by LDF are Thottumukku under Tholikkode grama panchayat and Akkaravila under Vettoor grama pachayat in Thiruvanan-thapuram district, Aadikkattukulangara town ward under Palamel grama panchayat in Alappuzha, Mulamkunnu in Kokkkayar gramapachayat in Idukki, Kaniyampuram Vayanasala ward in Ottapalam municipality at Palakkad, Omasserry east in Omasserry grama panchayatat Kozhikode and Ancham peedika ward in Kalyasserry grama panchayat in Kannur.
The four other seats won by UDF other than Uduma were Kanichukulamward in Madapally grama panchayat in Kottayam, Chakkamkulangara ward in Tripunitura municiaplity in Ernakulam, Pathazhakkad ward in Sreenarayanapuram grama panchayat in Thrissur and OKM ward in Oorakamgramapanchayat in Malappuram. Apart from Pappanamcode, BJP candidates won in Civil Station ward in Cherthala municipality in Alappuzha and Parambukara ward in Manarkad grama panchayat in Kottayam.
