The ruling UDF virtually swept Wednesday’s local body by-elections, winning 18 of the 30 seats, the results of which were announced on Thursday.
While LDF won 10 seats, the BJP and an independent candidate bagged one seat each.
The CPM, despite the general reverse it suffered, managed to win the Cheenam Ward in Vadakara municipality, even as the RMP extended its support to the UDF candidate.
According to a Congress leader, the election results demonstrated the popularity of the UDF government even in the face of the people’s discontentment over the price hike in diesel and cooking gas.
“Voters are aware that the Oommen Chandy government is helpless in the matter of the fuel and gas price hike. If we had worked a little harder, we could have won more seats,” he said.
UDF wrested the Tharayilmukku, Bharan-ikkavu, and Manayil wards from the LDF. The UDF wards of Puthanada, Chirangara and Cheenamveedu went to the LDF. LDF’s sitting seat at Chengavila went this time to an independent.
The CPM leadership in Vadakara was largely relieved when it saw the party candidate in Cheenam Ward in Vadakara municipality capturing the seat defeating the UDF.
Local leaders of the CPM said it was proof the RMP could hardly make an impact in a poll.
In Thiruvananthapuram district, out of the four seats, the UDF won two, the LDF one and an independent one. In the one seat in Thrissur district, the LDF candidate defeated the UDF candidate. The LDF retained Mutheri seat at Mukkam while UDF retained the seat at Eerponil in Tamaraserry.
The LDF won all the three seats in Wayanad district, while the UDF won all the four seats in Kollam. The UDF also made a clean sweep of the four seats in Ernakulam district, while the IUML won all the three seats in Malappuram. In Kottayam, the LDF won two seats while the UDF won two seats in Idukki district.
In Kannur, the LDF won one seat and the UDF two, while in Kasaragod the BJP candidate won one seat.