UDF wins big in Kerala local body polls

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)staged a strong comeback in the elections to the local bodies in Kerala.

Riding minority consolidation and political re-alignment after the last Lok Sabha elections,the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday staged a strong comeback in the elections to the local bodies in Kerala. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF),which swept the local body elections in 2005,suffered severe setback across the three-tier local bodies.

Counting of votes was held in all districts,except Kozhikode,where it was deferred to October 31 as polling to a block panchayat division in the district would be held on Saturday. Of the four corporations,the UDF wrested two from the LDF. Of the 57 municipalities in 13 districts,the UDF bagged 31. Of the 903 village panchayats,the UDF is leading in 540 and LDF in 346. In the 13 district panchayats,the UDF gained edge in eight. At block level,the UDF is poised to win 80 out of 140.

In 2005,the LDF bagged 11 out of 14 district panchayats,all five corporations,34 municipalities out of 53,104 block panchayats out of 152 and 659 village panchayats out of 999.

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A major shift in favour of UDF appeared to take place in Christian- and Muslim-dominated areas of Central and North Kerala. After 32 years,the Congress put up a spectacular show in Kochi Corporation and municipalities. Same trend was seen in Kottayam,Idukki,Wayanad and Pathanamthitta districts,where UDF bagged most of the local bodies.

Sidelining development talk,the CPM had raised the issue of intervention of religion in politics to corner the Catholic Church,which had urged believers not to vote for atheists. This issue seemed to have led to Christian consolidation in favour of the UDF. In Palai municipality,Catholic-backed Kerala Congress single-handedly bagged majority. It is also set to win district panchayat in Kottayam. But in Changanassery,hub of hardline Catholics,the CPM got 17 seats against UDFs 16.

The UDF also gained from consolidation of Muslim vote bank in Malappuram and Wayanad. Congress ally IUML wrested back most seats it lost to CPM in 2005. In the poll run-up,Left ally Indian National League too had returned to its mother party,IUML. The exit of CPM-backed legislator M Ali to UDF amidst the elections also stirred the Muslim vote bank in Malappuram.

This election was the first after the merger of Kerala Congress groups and Socialist Janata Party with the UDF. The victory of the UDF in Christian areas of Central Kerala attests the consolidation of votes in favour of the UDF after the entry of Kerala Congress groups into its fold. The SJP helped UDF to win seats in Wayanad and Palakkad.

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Another factor against the Left was return of K Karunakarans defunct Democratic Indira Congress (K) to Congress. Karunakarans son Muraleedharan,waiting to return to the Congress,campaigned for UDF.

For the LDF,face saving victory came from CPM bastions Kannur,Kollam and Palakkad. Besides,it prevented a UDF sweep in Thrissur,Kasargod and Alappuzha districts.

In at least half a dozen bodies,BJP emerged as decisive factor. In Kasargode and Palakkad municipalities,it emerged the second largest party. It bagged six divisions in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

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