Kerala local body election: LDF ahead

Despite a series of corruption charges and an intense campaign against its government and leaders, CPI-M- led LDF appears to be heading towards victory in the local body poll results on Wednesday.

Just before noon, the LDF was ahead of the Congress-led UDF in Gram Panchayaths and blocks. UDF had an edge in the municipal bodies.

In the six corporations, both the UDF and LDF were in a neck and neck race, with LDF leading in four and UDF in two.

The BJP-led NDA appears to be making considerable gains in the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad districts. However, the LDF was ahead in Thiruvananthapuram, wiping out the hopes of the BJP of winning the corporation in the capital.

Results as of now showed the LDF ahead in 103 blocks, and the UDF in 48. The NDA had the lead only in one. The state’s ruling coalition has a clear edge in the Gram Panchayats with leads in 454 of the 941 seats. The Opposition is leading in 368, and the NDA in 31. Others — Independents and smaller groups — were leading in 51.

The LDF’s recent move to get Kerala Congress (Mani) into its coalition after severing ties with UDF, have yielded results. The LDF was able to make fresh gains in districts like Kottayam and Pathnamthitta.

The political impact created by the Supreme Court verdict on the entry of women into Sabarimala has been proven to be having an effect even now.

While the LDF was pushed to the third place in Chengannur, the BJP gained in Pandalam. Pandalam and Chengannur were the epicentres of the protests against the Sabarimala verdict.

Result as of now

Kannur Corporation – Congress-led- UDF leads
Kollam Corporation- CPM-led LDF to victory
Kochi: No one has a majority
Kozhikode-CPM-led LDF leads
Thrissur: Congress-led UDF Leads
Thiruvananthapuram: LDF to power