The Opposition CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front have each bagged seven each of the State’s 14 posts of District Panchayat Presidents, in elections held on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has come under fire from rival political parties for fielding murder accused Karayi Rajan – now one of the LDF’s seven District Panchayat Presidents. Accused in a political murder case and barred by the court from entering Kannur district, Rajan had taken a special permission from the High Court to file his nomination papers.
On Wednesday, the LDF secured the governance of five out of six city corporations, leaving only Kochi to the UDF. At the Gram Panchayat level, the LDF has secured the cont-rol of most panchayats.
In capital Thiruvananthapuram, where the BJP put up a strong showing in the local body elections held earlier this month, the CPI(M)’s VK Prashanth was elected Mayor. The BJP is the second-largest party in the city corporation council, while the UDF was pushed to the third place.
In the newly-created Kannur Corporation, where the UDF and LDF are evenly balanced, the lone vote of a rebel Congress councillor helped the LDF win the mayoral election. P Latha was elected Mayor. In Thrissur, where the LDF could not win a majority, the presence of a BJP contestant ensured the LDF got the mayoral position.
In Kozhikode, VKC Mammadu Koya of the CPI(M) was elected Mayor. In the Kollam corporation council, where the LDF has a clear majority, its mayoral candidate V Rajendra Babu won with a comfortable margin.
Cong retains power In Kochi, the largest city corporation, the UDF retained power, with the Congress’ Soumini Jain being elected Mayor. Jain was chosen the UDF nominee on Tuesday after a lot of strife within the Congress, and in Wednesday’s election she emerged winner. The LDF, which washad held power for 25 years till 2010, had hoped to recapture the city in the 2015 elections.