LDF dominates local by-elections, gains 6 more seats

Thiruvananthapuram: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) shrugged off the anti-incumbency factor to emerge victorious in six more seats in the byelections held to 23 local body wards in the state, extending its tally to 10.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) managed only 10 seats, down from its previous tally of 14 seats. The BJP-led NDA could bag only three seats, one frewer than what it had earlier.

The byelection held on Thursday saw a voter turnout of 75.1 per cent. A total of 24,416 voters (13,442 women and 10,974 men) exercised their franchise. A total of 88 candidates contested the bypolls, held to one municipal corporation ward, four municipality wards and 18 grampanchayat wards, spread over 10 districts.

In the byelection held to four local body wards in Thiruvananthapuram district, the LDF grabbed three seats and the BJP won in the other. The LDF pulled off an upset victories in two wards.

In Malappuram, the UDF retained the two wards in Kottakkal municipality. This includes the seat represented by Bushra Shabeer, the former municipal chairperson who stepped down due to infighting within the Muslim League. In East Villoor Ward 14, represented earlier by Bushra, Shahana Shabeer of the Muslim League won by a margin of 191 votes.

In Ward 2, a byelection was held after the Election Commission disqualified the sitting councillor due to a prolonged stay abroad. Nashva Shahid of the Muslim League won by a margin of 176 votes. The results in both wards marked a major improvement over the margin of victory recorded in the previous elections.

The victory enabled the UDF to consolidate its position in the municipality, which the LDF had taken over with the support of UDF rebels. At present, the UDF holds 21 seats in the council against the LDF's nine seats, while the BJP has two seats.

In Ernakulam, CPM wrested a seat from the Congress in Nedumbassery panchayat, with its candidate N S Archana winning by a margin of 98 votes. The victory also enabled the Left party to unseat the Congress from holding power in the local body. In the 19-member panchayat council, the LDF now has 10 seats compared to UDF's nine.

The byelection was necessitated by the resignation of a Congress member who had served as the local body’s vice-president due to issues in executing a power-sharing agreement within the Congress. In Edavanakkad panchayat, the Congress wrested a seat from the CPM as Shanti Murali won by a margin of 108 votes.

In Alappuzha, the BJP seized a sitting seat from CPM at Veliyanad panchayat in Kuttanad. The BJP candidate, Subhash Parambissery, won at Ward 8. Geetha Sunil of CPM finished second, while CPM rebel M R Renjith secured the third position. K P Suresh of the Congress, meanwhile, finished at the last spot. The victory, however, will not have an impact on the power equations of the CPM-ruled local body.

Of the four wards in Kannur district where byelections were held, UDF won two seats, while the remaining two seats were shared between the LDF and the BJP. The BJP wrested Town ward of the Mattannur Municipality from the Congress. BJP opened its account in the municipality with the win. The LDF finished third. 

In Muzhuppilangad panchayat, LDF wrested Mammakunnu ward from the UDF. The UDF, however, managed to retain Palakkodu ward in Ramanthali panchayat and Idappuram ward in Madayi Muttom panchayat. The UDF, which has lost two seats—one each to BJP and CPM, stands as the net loser.

In Naranganam panchayat of Pathanamthitta, M R Ramesh Kumar of the UDF won the byelection in Ward 9 by a margin of 136 votes. The election was necessitated by the death of an independent member who had won the seat with CPM’s support.

In Thiruvananthapuram, CPI wrested the Vellar seat from the BJP. The ward had been represented by the BJP since 2020. In Ottashekaramangalam panchayat, BJP lost its sitting seat of Kunnanadu to CPM. Previously, BJP had won the seat three times on a trot. The BJP, meanwhile, retained its sitting seat of Kovilvila ward in Poovachal panchayat. Election to the ward was necessitated by the resignation of its previous member. CPM, on its part, successfully retained Adayaman seat in Pazhaya Kunnummal panchayat.

In Pavaratti Mullassery, Thrissur, LDF wrested the UDF’s sitting seat with V M Maneesh of CPM winning by a margin of 63 votes. The UDF had won the seat in the previous election by a thin margin of one vote. While the BJP finished second, the UDF was relegated to the third spot. The result, however, will not have much of an impact on the panchayat, where the LDF has been in power.

In Kollam, the CPM scored a significant victory by wresting the Kuriyodu ward in Chadayamangalam panchayat from the BJP. P S Sunil Kumar, the candidate fielded by the CPM, won by a margin of 264 votes. The BJP, which had won the seat last time, secured just 58 votes while the UDF raced to the second spot.

Of the four local body seats where by-elections were held, the LDF won one seat, while the four seats went to the Muslim League. Arogyasami of CPM won the Muthukad ward (60) of the Chittur-Thathamangalam Municipality by a margin of 369 votes. In Thiruvegappura panchayat, Muslim League candidate KPA Majeed won the Nariparambil ward (16) by 470 votes. In Pookkottukavu panchayat, CPM candidate C K Aravindakshan secured the Pookottukavu North ward (8) by 31 votes. In Eruthempathi panchayat, Left-backed independent candidate Martin Antony won from the Pidarimedu ward (14) by 146 votes. The seat was previously represented by the Congress.

Results (District, local body ward, and winner) 

Thiruvananthapuram

• Vellar in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation  -LDF
• Kunnanadu in Ottasekharamangalam Grampanchayat   - LDF
• Kovilvila in Poovachal Grampanchayat - NDA
• Adayaman in Pazhayakunnummel Grampanchayat  - LDF

Kollam

Kuriyode in Chadayamangalam Grampanchayat  - LDF

Pathanamthitta

Kadamanitta in Naranganam Grampanchayat   -- UDF

Alappuzha

Kidangara Bazaar South in Veliyanad Grampanchayat – NDA

Idukki

• Moolakkada in Munnar Grampanchayat --  UDF
• Nadayar in Munnar Grampanchayat  -- UDF

Ernakulam

• Netaji in Edavanakkad Grampanchayat      -- UDF
• Kalpaka Nagar in Nedumbassery Grampanchayat – LDF

Thrissur

Pathiyarkulangara in Mullassery Grampanchayat – LDF

Palakkad

• Muthukadu in Chittur Tattamagalam Municipal Council  -- LDF
• Pookottukavu North in Pookottukavu Grampanchayat – LDF
• Pidarimedu in Erutembathy Grampanchayat   -- Independent
• Nariparambu in Tiruvegappura Grampanchayat   -- UDF

Malappuram

• Choonda in Kottakkal Municipal Council  -- UDF
• East Villoor in Kottakkal Municipal Council  -- UDF
• Kachinikkad East in Makkaraparambu Grampanchayat  -- UDF

Kannur

• Mammakkunnu ward in Muzhuppilangad Grampanchayat  -- LDF Palakkodu Central in Ramanthali Grampanchayat  -- UDF
• Town ward in Mattannur Municipal Council   -- BJP
• Idappuram ward in Madayi Muttom Grampanchayat   -- UDF