Local body polls: LDF consolidates its position in Kasaragod district

Kasaragod, Nov 7: The keenly contested local body election saw the Left Democratic Front (LDF) slowly consolidating its position in the district.

However, it failed to retain the district panchayat which it has been ruling since 2000. But the front improved its performance in the block panchayat and municipal elections.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) secured eight seats, just one short of simple majority, in the 17-division district panchayat while the LDF won in seven. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) improved its tally to two, winning an additional seat.

The UDF won Vorkkadi, Chittarikkal, Pilicode, Uduma, Chengala, Civil Station, Kumbla and Manjeshwaram divisions while the Left won from Delampady, Bedakam, Kallar, Karindalam, Cheruvatur, Madikai and Periye. The BJP won from Puthige and retained Edaneer.

In the six block panchayats, the LDF improved its tally by wresting back Parappa from the UDF and retaining Neeleshwaram, Kanhangad and Karadukka divisions. The UDF retained Manjeshwaram and Kasaragod wards.

The UDF, which was in control of 19 of the 38 grama panchayats, went down to 17, losing Ajanur and Pullur-Periye to the LDF. The LDF won in 15 panchayats while the BJP improved its tally to four by wresting back Bellur from the LDF.

The East Eleri panchayat went with the Democratic Development Front floated by Congress rebels winning 10 out of the 16 wards while there was a 7-7 tie in Enmagaje panchayat between the UDF and the BJP with three wards favouring the LDF.

Envious victory

The LDF-INL alliance scripted the most envious victory in the district by wresting back Kanhangad municipality from the UDF after more than three decades.

The LDF reaching the simple majority by bagging 23 of the 43-member body should be seen as the fallout of the sharp infighting and threat from rebels faced by the dominant IUML whose chairman aspirant N.A. Khalid had to face humiliating defeat from his own nephew and Youth League rebel nominee Mahammood Muriyanavi.

Former chairperson Haseena Tajuddeen of IUML, K. Divya of JD(U) and T.V. Shylaja of Congress also faced the heat.

The LDF victory in Kanhangad has paved the way for CPI(M) district committee member V.V. Rameshan to emerge as the next chairman of the municipality. The BJP, which managed to retain five seats this time, had to face the embarrassment of tasting defeat from party rebel Ajayakumar Nellikkatt from its traditional pocket of Kalyan Road ward where the party was relegated to third position.

The LDF retained the neighbouring Neeleshwaram municipality with 19 seats in the 32-member body as retired Kannur University Controller of Examinations K.P. Jayarajan is all set to become the next chairman.

The UDF is all set to rule the 38-ward Kasaragod municipality, winning 20 seats in the IUML citadel where the BJP improved its tally to 14 while the Left managed to win one seat. Three seats went to the Independents.