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LDF gains ground as UDF faces first electoral test (Img: X)
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) retained an overall edge but faced losses to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala’s local body bypolls, held across 38 wards in 12 districts. The elections marked the first bypoll test for the UDF government after it came to power earlier this year.
According to the latest results, the UDF won 19 of the 38 wards, while the LDF secured 18. The remaining seat went to an independent candidate, according to reports on the results. The LDF also wrested seven wards from the UDF, while the UDF recovered four seats previously held by the Left.
The Left made gains in several areas where the UDF had previously held seats. In Ernakulam, traditionally seen as a strong area for the Congress-led alliance, the UDF won only two of the four wards that went to bypolls.
The LDF also performed strongly in Kottayam and Palakkad, winning two of the three wards in Kottayam and four of the seven seats contested in Palakkad, according to the results cited in the report.
The UDF, however, retained all the wards contested in Pathanamthitta. It also held the Pallikal division of Mananthavady in Wayanad and the Kuttichira ward in Kozhikode.
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The margins in some of these constituencies were narrower than in previous elections, indicating close contests in several wards.
The bypoll results come as the UDF government, led by Chief Minister V D Satheesan, completes its first 100 days in office. The elections had been closely watched as an early indication of the political mood following the Assembly polls.
The LDF has repeatedly attacked the government over governance-related issues, including alleged shortages of medicines in government hospitals. The Opposition has also targeted Satheesan over the functioning of the administration.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan described the outcome as a response to those who believed the Left could be wiped out.
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“By-elections were held in 38 local body wards across 12 districts in Keralam. The LDF won 18 seats, while the UDF won 19 seats. If we examine the vote figures, the UDF’s majority has decreased considerably in the places where it won. The LDF’s majority has increased. In the first by-election after the Assembly elections, the LDF has made a good comeback…In four months, the UDF government has moved away from the people," he said.
The bypolls recorded a voter turnout of 58.81%, with 1,82,160 people casting their votes. Kannur recorded the highest turnout at 84.55%, while Kottayam registered the lowest at 54.24%.
A total of 126 candidates contested the 38 wards, which included corporation, municipality, district panchayat, block panchayat and grama panchayat seats across 12 districts. Kollam and Alappuzha were the only districts not covered by the bypolls.
