THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After speculations and expectations soaring for months, in the climax of Attipra bypoll, the ruling LDF of the City Corporation retained the seat with a lead of 913 votes as its candidate Sobha Sivadath polled 1,738 votes.
BJP came second with 825, while the UDF was in the third place with 770 votes.
Counting of votes was held at District Collectorate here on Friday from 8 am and the results were announced within an hour.
LDF leaders had stationed at the place with the candidate during the counting. When the results were confirmed, Mayor K Chandrika arrived and joined the party members.
The strength of the ruling front in the council is now 49.
It was following the suicide of councillor M S Sangeetha of the LDF that the stage was set for a byelection in Attipra ward.
Allegations had been raised that pressure from the party area committee had prompted Sangeetha to end her life.
The opposition UDF had made the death a tool during the election campaigning and it was also accused of using a CD with ‘defamatory’ content against the LDF.
Meanwhile, BJP cashed in on the massive lead earned by O Rajagopal in the Lok Sabha polls from the area and managed to finish in the second position.
Altogether, seven candidates contested for the elections, including three independents.