Civic bypolls: UDF bags 15 wards, LDF 12 in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In bypolls to local bodies, the Congress-led UDF emerged on top winning 15 out of 29 wards, while LDF bagged 12 wards and BJP two. UDF wrested seven wards from LDF and two from BJP. LDF bagged two wards that were with UDF and BJP wrested a seat from LDF. Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan said the results are a befitting reply to LDF which has become "blind with arrogance" and UDF will make further inroads in upcoming elections.
Congress-led UDF emerged on top in the byelections to the local bodies of the state as it won 15 of the 29 wards where polls were held. LDF won 12 wards while BJP managed to win two.
UDF gained this time by winning nine wards of which seven were the sitting seats of LDF and two of the BJP. LDF won two wards that were previously won by UDF. BJP won an additional seat that was previously a sitting seat of LDF.
The byelections were held in the wards of local bodies in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad on Wednesday.
In the local body elections of 2020, LDF had secured a majority in grama panchayats, corporations and district panchayats, while UDF had topped in terms of municipalities by winning 45 of the 86 municipalities in Kerala.
In Mattannur municipality polls held at Kannur in August this year, UDF had made headway. In 35 wards of the municipality that is considered an LDF stronghold, UDF had doubled its tally from seven in the previous elections to 14 this time.
Responding to the latest results, opposition leader VD Satheesan said that the results were a befitting reply to LDF that has become blind with arrogance after it won a second term in the assembly elections.
He said that UDF will make further inroads in upcoming elections. Congratulating UDF's winners, KPCC chief K Sudhakaran said the results showed how much the people of the state are fed up with the LDF rule. He termed the victory as the trust and hope the people have in the UDF.