The results of the bypolls conducted in 27 wards of various local bodies across the state has come as a relief to the Congress-led UDF, the opposition in the state. Out of 27 wards, the UDF won in 15 wards and the LDF won in 11, state election commissioner V Bhaskaran said.
The BJP, which has already shown its isolated presence in certain wards in the state, also won a seat in the bypolls. Interestingly, the BJP won from Kanthalloor ward of Karode gram panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district, which was earlier the sitting seat of CPI(M).
The LDF reportedly lost three sitting seats to the UDF, but won a seat that the UDF held.
The UDF won a ward each in Pothencode block panchayat, Chenkal gram panchayat, Kunnathukal gram panchayat, Amboori gram panchayat and Pangode gram panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district; Kundara gram panchayat in Kollam district; Naranammoozhy gram panchayat in Pathanamthitta; Adimali block panchayat in Idukki district; Mulanthuruthy gram panchayat and Kalamassery municipality in Ernakulam district; Kuzhur gram panchayat in Thrissur; Shoranur municipality and Palakkad municipality in Palakkad district; Nannamukku gram panchayat in Malappuram and Kunnamangalam block panchayat in Kozhikode district.
The wards in which the LDF won the bypolls were in Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat and Pothencode gram panchayat in the district; Kulakkada gram panchayat in Kollam; Pookkottukavu gram panchayat, Thenkara gram panchayat, Pallassana gram panchayat, Nelliyampathy gram panchayat in Palakkad district; Mankada gram panchayat in Malappuram; Kottur gram panchayat and Meladi block panchayat in Kozhikode district; and Bedadka gram panchayat in Kasaragod.
KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran reportedly said that the bypoll results are the result of people’s anger against the ruling government, which has failed the aspirations of the people.