THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With nearly a year left for local body elections in the state, a resurgent LDF gained an upper hand in the bypolls to grama panchayat and municipal wards held on Tuesday by winning 18 out of 26 seats.
While the UDF won eight seats, BJP drew a blank, losing its sitting seat- Kottampally- in Maranalloor panchayat, here, to the CPM. The results of the bypoll enabled the LDF to wrest Maranalloor panchayat and also the Kolayad panchayat in Kannur.
The bypolls were held to four municipal wards and 22 panchayat wards on Tuesday. This is the second time after the Lok Sabha election that the LDF maintained its lead in the local body election.
Municipal Election
Out of the four municipal wards, LDF retained Thuruthyparambu ward in Perumbavoor municipality. The Iruvallipara ward in Thiruvalla municipality was won by an LDF-backed independent. While the UDF retained the welfare ward in Ponnani municipality, the Bethel ward in Chengannur municipality was won by the UDF-backed independent.
Panchayat Election
Out of the 22 gram panchayat wards to which elections were held, LDF won in 15 and the UDF seven. Out of the 15 seats won by the LDF, eight seats were retained while six were wrested from the UDF and one from the BJP. The UDF retained five gram panchayat wards and wrested two from the LDF.