The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front has clearly established an upper hand in the three-tier local bodies in the district after the elections to the heads of the grama panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayat. The coalition also came to power in the Kozhikode Corporation and four out of the seven municipalities, five of them newly formed.
However, the Congress-led United Democratic Front will rule Feroke municipality after securing the votes of the rebel IUML winners.
A major achievement of the CPI(M) is retaining the Kozhikode Corporation, which the LDF or its coalition has been ruling for the past 40 years. It also retained the Vadakara and Koyilandy municipalities.
The newly formed Mukkom and Ramanattukara municipalities will be under LDF rule. Two other new municipalities, Payyoli and Koduvally, will be held by UDF.
Incidentally, the IUML nominees occupy the post of chairpersons in the three municipalities where the UDF is in power.
The LDF won 16 out of the 27 divisions in the Kozhikode district panchayat. The Congress could win only four divisions while its coalition partner, IUML, got five divisions.
The LDF has also staged a comeback by capturing several grama pancahayats it lost last time to the UDF. It had won 36 out of the 75 grama panchayats in 2010. Now it will be in power in 43 out of the 70 local bodies. The CPI(M) alone has majority in 38 grama panchayats.
The CPI(M) alleges that the Revolutionary Marxist Party and the UDF have a tacit understanding at Onchiyam and Chorode grama panchayats.
The LDF will also be in power in eight out of the 12 block panchayats in the district. The block panchayats won by LDF are Kunnummal, Thooneri, Perambra, Chelannur, Meladi, Pandalayini, Kozhikode and Balussery while the UDF won Koduvally, Kunnamangalam, Vadakara and Thodannur.
The BJP will not be in power in any of the grama panchayats in the district. However, the party made strides by winning seven seats in the Kozhikode Corporation.
