Elections were held in two block panchayat wards, three municipality wards, and 22 grama panchayat wards, while two wards saw unopposed victories.
Published Feb 26, 2025 | 10:15 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 26, 2025 | 12:14 PM
Voters at a polling booth in Kerala. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The LDF won 17 out of 30 seats in the recently held body by-elections in Kerala. While the UDF secured 12 seats and the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) captured one seat, the BJP failed to win any.
Despite losing two seats in the local body by-elections in Kerala, the Left Front emerged ahead by winning 17 out of 30 seats, while the UDF secured 12 seats and the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) captured one seat. The BJP failed to win any seats.
Before the election, the Left Front held 21 seats — CPI(M) 18 seats and CPI three seats.
Meanwhile, the UDF had nine seats prior to the election — six for the Congress, one for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and two for the Kerala Congress (Joseph), and the SDPI had no seats.
The counting for elections to 28 local body wards across the state was held on Tuesday, 25 February. Elections were held on Monday in two block panchayat wards, three municipality wards, and 22 grama panchayat wards, while two wards saw unopposed victories.
In a closely contested race, LDF’s independent candidate Bijimol Mathew won the Kumbazha seat in Pathanamthitta Municipality by just three votes. In Ayirur Grama Panchayat, UDF’s Preeta Nair secured Thadiyur ward by 106 votes. Sobhika Gopi of LDF won Puramattam Gram Panchayat’s Galaxy Nagar Ward by 152 votes, while Mangalanandan triumphed in Kavalam Gram Panchayat’s Palodam ward with 171 votes.
UDF’s Binsi clinched the Mithrakari East seat in Muttar panchayat by 15 votes.
In Kottayam’s Ramapuram Grama Panchayat, Congress candidate Rajitha defeated BJP’s Aswathi by 235 votes. LDF’s Binu won the Devambedu ward in Vathikudy Grama Panchayat of Idukki by seven votes.
In Malappuram’s Karulai Grama Panchayat, IUML candidate Vipin secured Chakittamala Ward with a 397-vote margin, while Abdul Jabbar of UDF won Thirunavaya Grama Panchayat’s Edakulam East Ward by 260 votes.
CPI(M) retained the Sreevaraham ward in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, with V Harikumar defeating BJP’s Mini by just 12 votes. The UDF gained the CPI(M)-held Kochupally seat in Karumkulam Grama Panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram, where Xavier Jaron won by 169 votes.
Meanwhile, SDPI took over the UDF seat in Pulippara of the Pangode Grama Panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram, as Mujeeb Pulippara secured a 674-vote victory, pushing Congress to third place.
In Kollam district, LDF held onto the Kalluvathukkal division in Kottarakkara Municipality, with CPI’s Manju Sam winning by 198 votes, while CPI(M)’s Valsamma secured Kottara with a 900-vote lead.
Jayadevi of CPI(M) retained the Prayar South B seat in Clappana Grama Panchayat with 277 votes. UDF maintained its hold in Edamulackal Grama Panchayat, where Congress candidate Sheeja Dileep won by 24 votes.
UDF achieved a narrow victory in Purameri Kunjallur Ward in Kozhikode with Ajayan winning by 20 votes. LDF was elected unopposed in Madikai Ward in Kasaragod.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
