IN the first local body by-elections held after the Assembly elections, the CPIM led Left Democratic Front has registered a triumphant comeback. It wrested seven seats from the UDF, including one district panchayat division, two block divisions, and a municipal ward. This includes the sitting seats of two UDF MLAs. The LDF increased its tally from 15 to 18 seats, while the UDF’s count dropped from 22 to 19. Twenty 20 retained its single seat. The BJP failed to win anywhere. The upper hand gained by the LDF in the district and block panchayats—considered purely political battles—indicates a shifting political landscape. This setback for the UDF comes just four months after it assumed power.

The LDF won two out of three district panchayat divisions, five out of seven block panchayat divisions, and two out of three municipal wards. Although the UDF retained two corporation wards, its winning margins saw a steep decline. In the overall panchayat ward tally, the LDF won nine wards, while the UDF secured 13.

The LDF wrested the Trikkodithanam division of the Kottayam District Panchayat from the UDF and retained the Pallasena division in the Palakkad District Panchayat. In Trikkodithanam, the sitting seat of UDF MLA Vinu Job, Manju Sujith of the LDF pulled off a major upset victory. In the Kallara division of the Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat, the LDF managed to reduce the UDF’s margin by nearly half. Furthermore, the LDF captured the Anjuthengu division in Chirayinkeezhu Block (Thiruvananthapuram) and the Athipotta division in Alathur Block (Palakkad) from the UDF.

The LDF won two out of three municipal wards. It snatched the Paruthikkavu ward in the Chittur-Thathamangalam Municipality (Palakkad district) from the UDF and retained Uruvachal in the Mattannur Municipality (Kannur). The Paruthikkavu ward was previously won by Congress MLA Sumesh Achuthan; LDF's V. Thulaseedharan won this seat through a draw of lots. Meanwhile, the UDF retained the Municipal Office ward in the Chalakudy Municipality (Thrissur).

Although the UDF retained two corporation wards, its margins dropped by more than half. In the Ayyappankavu ward of Kochi Corporation—a seat vacated by Tripunithura MLA Deepak Joy—the winning margin dropped from 1,183 votes to 543. In the Kuttichira ward of Kozhikode Corporation, where Muslim League MLA Fathima Tahliya had previously won by 2,273 votes, the UDF’s margin plummeted to 436. The LDF wrested three panchayat wards from the UDF while losing four of its own.

Seat Tally (Previous Tally in Brackets):

·      LDF: 18 (15)

·      UDF: 19 (22)

·      Twenty 20: 1 (1)