Kerala Local Body Polls: Ruling left-led alliance surges ahead
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Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala on Wednesday appeared to make a sweep of the local body polls in the state, leading in 514 grama panchayats while the Opposition Congress-led UDF was in the second spot, leading in over 375 grama panchayats.
The BJP is ahead in 23 grama panchayats and two municipalities, including Pandalam, which was the centre of protests against the entry of women of the banned age group into the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine.
The saffron party was ahead in Palakkad municipality also.
The Left front was leading in 514 grama panchayats, five corporations and 11 district panchayats, prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to attribute the good show to the people of the state.
The outcome of the polls is seen as an indicator of the public mood ahead of the 2021 assembly elections in the state.
The Left front is also ahead in 108 block panchayats, Vijayan told reporters.
He also took to Twitter to thank the people for reposing faith in the ruling front.
"Thank you Kerala. Thank you for reposing faith in LDF.
We are humbled by the trust and the confidence of the people of Kerala. This is a victory for secularism and inclusive development," he said.
It was "people's victory," he said, adding LDF's performance is a resounding reply to those who tried to belittle the state's achievements.
The Opposition Congress led UDF was leading in 375 grama panchayats, 44 block panchayats, 45 municipalities and three district panchayats.
Though the BJP could not put up a spectacular show, it still seemed to better its 2015 record, where it won 14 grama panchayats and the lone Palakkad municipality.Earlier, the three phase polling, as per strict COVID-19 protocol, was held in a total of 21,893 wards in 1,200 local self governing bodies--including six corporations, 941 village panchayats, 14 district panchayats and 87 municipalities on December 8, 10 and 14
Votes counted for seats in 941 gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 87 municipalities and six corporations.
In 2015, the LDF had won in most of the local bodies. In district panchayats, the UDF and LDF were at seven each.