Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF has won 21 seats and the UDF 12 in the local body elections held at 39 wards in the 14 districts of Kerala. Earlier, the LDF’s tally was 22 and the UDF's 13.
While the UDF won four new wards, it lost five. The BJP won two seats and the SDPI raised its tally from one to two. Among the winning candidates, two are independents, of whom one is a UDF rebel.
The elections were held to 27 grama panchayat, five block panchayat, six municipality and one corporation wards.
Palakkad
CPM retained its seat in Kulakkandamppatta ward in Puthupariyaram panchayat. Its candidate Shimalkumar won by 614 votes.
LDF also retained the Kothachira division in Thrithala block panchayat. CPM's K P Usha secured a majority of 2,373 votes.
Kottayam
Kerala Congress (M) candidate Benny Theruvath won from Amanakara ward in Ramapuram. During the last election, an independent had won from here and had later joined the Congress. LDF's votes came to 16. The tally of BJP also fell.
Pathanamthitta
UDF rebel Ansar Muhammed won in the election to the Pathanamthitta municipality. He was earlier KSU district president but was expelled from the Congress for contesting as a rebel.
In Pandalam municipality, SDPI captured a seat from the CPM. While Congress came second, CPM was placed third.
Idukki
CPI independent won an upset victory over CPM in the Kaipa ward of Kudayathur panchayat. CPI candidate P K Sasi secured a majority of 73 votes over CPM’s Rajan Punnappara. CPM, CPI and Congress had fielded candidates in the seat, which was held by the CPM. Congress has the majority in the panchayat with 13 members.
Congress retained its Thalamali seat in Adimali panchayat. Its candidate Manju Biju defeated CPM’s Smitha Muniswami by 133 votes.
The Congress captured the Muniyara North ward in Konnathadi panchayat from the CPM. Binoy Mathew of Congress won the seat. Sudeesh Joby of CPM came second.
Wayanad
UDF captured the Karivallikkunnu ward in Bathery municipality from LDF. UDF candidate Rinu John of Congress secured a majority of 51 votes. While UDF polled 422 votes, LDF’s Reby Paul received 371 votes and BJP 37.
Alappuzha
The overall tally in the district is BJP – 2, CPM – 1, Congress – 1 and SDPI – 1. BJP won the ward-5 in Thakazhy panchayat and ward-10 in Kavalam. The party captured both seats from Congress. CPM retained its seat in Ambalapuzha South panchayat and Congress the ward - 11 in Thakazhy. The Punnapra South seat was won again by SDPI.
Malappuram
LDF and UDF won two seats each. LDF captured a ward from UDF. At Uppuvalli ward in Amarambalam, which was held by UDF, LDF won.
UDF candidate M Fathima Nazia retained the Meembara seat in Valanchery municipality with a majority of 55 votes.
LDF independent Anitha Raju won with a margin of 146 votes in Uppuvalli. Anitha, who was earlier with the Congress, had resigned from the party and contested again.
K V Kumaran of LDF retained Melmuri in Vattakulam panchayat by 61 votes.
Faisal Kolloli of UDF retained Aiykkarappady division in Kondotty block panchayat with a majority of 1,354 votes.
Thrissur
LDF won all the five wards where elections were held. One was earlier held by the BJP while all others were LDF seats. The winners are K A Krishnakumar in ward 2 of Irinjalakkuda municipality (margin- 85 votes), P J Siby in ward 2 of Parappukara panchayat (161 votes), Girish Parangodan in ward 2 of Chelakkara panchayat (121 votes), P Nirmala Devi in ward 14 of Vallathol Nagar panchayat ( 343 votes) and Rajan in ward 5 of Kadavallur panchayat (149 votes). The Parappukara seat was held by the BJP.
Ernakulam
LDF’s K J Joshy secured a majority of 450 votes in ward 49 (Maramkulangara) in Tripunithura municipality. He polled 843 votes, while NDA secured 393, UDF 287 and Shiv Sena 11. The bypoll was held after T K Shine of UDF passed away. 82 % poling was recorded – of 1878 voters, 1534 exercised their franchise. Though it was a sitting seat of UDF, the Front finished third.
Kannur
LDF and UDF won two seats each. P Praseeda of CPM was elected with a majority of 1,717 votes at Vankulathu Vayal division of Kannur block panchayat. The seat fell vacant after D Bindu of CPM resigned when she received a government appointment.
C K Mahroof of Muslim League was declared winner in Chavokunnu ward of New Mahe panchayat. His majority is 50 votes. K Sameer of Muslim League, who represented the ward, had died in a road accident.
LDF has won again from Kottakunnu ward in Panniyannur panchayat. Sulaha Shamsuddin of CPM has a majority of 229 votes. P Sameera of CPM was the ward member here and had vacated after she joined a government job.
In Arakkal Thazhe ward of Naduvil panchayat, K Mohammed Kunji of Muslim League won by 594 votes. K Abdullah, also of Muslim League, had represented the seat. His death led to the bypoll.
Kozhikode
LDF candidate Kizhakkayil Balan of NCP recorded a margin of 1,212 votes over UDF’s Aseez Faizi of Muslim League in Palery division of Perambra block panchayat. NCP leader and block panchayat vice president P P Krishnanand who was the sitting member had died, necessitating the election.
Kollam
UDF registered an upset victory in Kunnikodu North ward in Vilakkudi grama panchayat. UDF’s Leena Rani edged LDF’s B Rajeena by 146 votes. The ward was held by the LDF for the last 28 years.
