Victory for LDF in civic polls in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram (updated on Nov. 8): Left Democratic Front gained control of majority of block and grama panchayats in the civic polls in State on Saturday.

They retained two municipal corporations—Kozhikode and Kollam while the United Democratic Front retained Kochi Corporation. UDF and LDF won seven district panchayats each.

Of 86 municipalties to which elections were held, LDF is in the lead in  42 and UDF 40. However, the officials results showed clear majority for them only in 25 municipalities each. Others are hung. The LDF has emerged victors in about 550 of the 941 grama panchayats in the State (Clear majority in 418 according to official figures). The UDF is behind with 362 (clear majority in 255) while BJP won majority in 3 grama panchayats and became the largest party in 11.. The other grama panchayats are either hung or others would be getting control. In the case of block panchayats (152), the tally is 88 and 64 (clear majority in 83 and 57 respectively). The BJP could not gain control of any block panchayat.

None has won majority in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kannur city corporations.  It is a tie between UDF and LDF in the newly formed Kannur Corporation. A UDF rebel P. K. Ragesh, who still declares his allegiance to Congress, may decide the majority here. The LDF is the largest party in Thiruvanathapuram and Thrissur city corporations.

BJP made advances in many areas in the State compared to 2010 polls and opened account in several municipalities. It is the largest party in Palakkad Municipal Council.

UDF is ahead in Kottayam district and wons in Palai Municipality with constituent KC-M alone getting a simple majority there. Making a history of sorts, Twenty20, a non-governmental organization sponsored by corporate group Anna-KITEX, captureed Kizhakkambalam panchayat in Ernakulam district.

Daughter of former Chief Minister E. K. Nayanar Usha Praveen was defeated in Ravipuram ward of Kochi Corporation. Soumini Jain won there. Daughter of former Minister M. V. Raghavan, M. V. Girija, lost in Kannur.

The Revolutionary Marxist Party, formed by CPI (M) rebels, lost control of Onchiyam Panchayat where none has established a lead so far. The Kerala Congress faction led by P. C. George made gains in Poonjar and Erattupetta.  The RSP, switched Front to align with UDF, lost its hold significantly in Chavara, Needandakara and other areas of Kollam district.

The BJP not only claimed 34 seats in the 100-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, but also came second in about 15 wards. The LDF has won 42 seats while the UDF came third with just 21 seats against 40 in the previous election. The BJP had only six seats earlier.

Significantly, the BJP could win seats in Meenachil where its electoral understanding with SNDP Yogam paid off. The alliance has helped it in other wards also. However, it could not win any seat in Cherthala municipality. Most of the candidates fielded by Kerala Congress (Balakrishna Pillai) were defeated in Kottarakkara despite his party switching over to the LDF.

The LDF made inroads in Muslim League fortresses by capturing municipalities such as Ponnani and Tirur. The "friendly" fight between Congress and League took its toll. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political wing of the Popular Front of India, won more than 50 seats in different local bodies. The Welfare Party of India, political arm of Jamaat-e-Islami, claimed victory in more than 40 seats. The Pennoruma (Pembilai Otorumai), floated by women estate workers at Munnar, won three seats.

The Opposition, including BJP, demanded resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the electoral debacle. CPI (M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the LDF victory was the victory of secular forces. Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani said that victory of his party in Palai showed that the allegations of bribe-taking against him had not affected the UDF’s prospects. It is a set back to Chandy, Mani and Vellappally, said Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan.

Accepting defeat, the Chief Minister said that the UDF would analysis the reason for the defeat in detail. Corrective steps would be taken at the Government level.

The Chief Minister said that this was the second best performance of the UDF in the history of civic polls in the State. The BJP’s performance would only be temporary.