LDF wins 24 out of 42 seats in Kerala local body bypolls

With this, in the 49-seat municipality, the CPI(M) lost majority with its tally coming down from 25 to 23.

In these 42 wards, where by-election was held, UDF, which earlier had 16 wards under it, lost four . Although LDF could increase its tally to 24 among the wards where by-poll was held, the coalition had lost three to UDF and two to BJP.

In the Kannur district, CPI(M) retained a ward at Muzhappilangad panchayat, which had recently witnessed violent resistance from the public against the proposed semi-high speed rail corridor. A large number of people in that region had joined the agitation against laying boundary stones for the social impact assessment of the project.

Reacting to the outcome of bypolls at local bodies, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the results showed that the support for the LDF is growing. “This reflects the intention of the people of Kerala that the LDF should go ahead with its developmental and welfare agenda. People have summarily rejected the unholy nexus between the Congress and BJP,” he said.

BJP state president K Surendran said the results showed that minority communities are now backing the party. The two seats the BJP won — one at Thripunithura and one at Kochi corporation — are warning signals to the CPI(M) and Congress, he said.

Kerala has 21,865 wards/divisions in 1,200 three-tier local bodies.