The United Democratic Front wrested Kochi and Thrissur city corporations from the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The LDF retained Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam corporations. The UDF won the highest number of seats in 39 municipalities and the LDF in 18 municipalities. However, both the fronts are short of majority in some of the municipalities. Counting of votes in Kozhikode Corporation and other local bodies in Kozhikode district will take place only on October 31.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has registered an impressive victory in the local body elections in Kerala, securing majority in two of the five City Corporations and 38 of the 59 municipalities.
Initial trends point to the UDF leading in 6,714 grama panchayat wards, 1,043 block panchayat wards and 175 district panchayat divisions. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) retained the Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam Corporations and secured 16 municipalities. It has secured a lead in 5,215 grama panchayats, 780 block and 129 district panchayat divisions. The results in the Corporations and municipalities were the first to be announced as electronic voting machines were used there. The first round of manual counting of ballots for the district, block and grama panchayat elections is progressing. A final picture is expected to emerge by Thursday evening. Counting at the Kozhikode Corporation will be taken up on October 31.
The BJP has improved its tally compared to the previous local body polls. The party has got significant representation in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation — six seats — two in Kochi, one in Thrissur and 76 seats in various municipalities, the highest of 15 in Palakkad municipality. The party candidates finished runners-up in eight wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The party will play a crucial role in deciding the rulers in four municipalities. The SDPI has also opened its account by securing one seat each in the Kannur and Thodupuzha municipalities.
The UDF wrested the Kochi Corporation from the LDF after three decades, winning 46 out of the 74 seats. The LDF won 23 wards and the BJP 2 and Independent 3. The UDF also emerged victorious in the Thrissur Corporation, winning 44 out of the 55 seats. Here, the LDF got six seats, the BJP one and Independents four seats.
The LDF has retained the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation winning 51 out of the 100 seats, leaving 41 to the UDF, six to the BJP and two to Independents. The LDF won the Kollam Corporation for a third successive term bagging 34 out of the 55 seats. The UDF got 18 seats and others, three.
As per the figures of the State Election Commission, none of the fronts secured majority in the Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad municipalities in Thiruvananthapuram, and Changanassery in Kottayam district.
In Thiruvananthapuram district, the LDF retained the Attingal municipality and the UDF wrested Varkala from the LDF. In Kollam district, the LDF won the Paravur and Punalur municipalities, while the UDF registered an impressive victory in the Karunagapally municipality. In Pathanamthitta district, the UDF secured majority in the Adoor and Pathanamthitta municipalities and emerged as the largest group in Thiruvalla with 17 seats. While the LDF got 13, the BJP bagged five seats.
The LDF won the Alappuzha municipality and the UDF Cherthala in the district. The UDF emerged victorious in the Kottayam, Vaikkom and Pala municipalities. In Ernakulam district, the UDF won 12 and the LDF one municipality. The LDF won four and the UDF two municipalities in Thrissur district. In Palakkad, the fronts shared two municipalities each.
The rival fronts maintained status quo in Kannur district. Of the total six municipalities, elections were held to five. While the LDF retained the Thalassery, Koothuparamba, Taliparamba and Payyannur municipalities, the UDF fortified its position in the Kannur municipality. Elections in Mattannur will be held later.
In Kasaragod district, the UDF registered a thumping victory in the Kasaragod and Kanhangad municipalities, while the CPI(M) defeated the UDF in Neeleswaram.
