Kerala local body polls: UDF, NDA make dents in LDF’s strongholds in Alappuzha district

The United Democratic Front (UDF) made considerable gains in the traditional strongholds of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the local body polls in Alappuzha district. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) too improved its performance.

The UDF emerged as the single largest front in the Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Haripad, Chengannur and Mavelikara municipalities. The NDA emerged as the dark horse as it surged ahead of the LDF to attain the second position in the Chengannur and Mavelikara municipalities. The LDF’s victory was reduced to the Cherthala municipality alone this time. Besides Cherthala, it had won the Alappuzha and Kayamkulam municipalities in the 2020 polls. The Left front won 16 of the 24 divisions in the Alappuzha district panchayat. The UDF won eight divisions. In 2020, the LDF had won 21 divisions in the district panchayat.

Though it could manage a lead in the grama panchayats, the Left front’s performance slipped when compared to the 2020 polls as it could manage to secure only 36 seats this time. In 2020, the corresponding figure was 55. The UDF improved its performance to 23 seats from 12 in the previous election. The LDF won seven block panchayats as its performance dipped when compared to 2020 polls (11). The UDF improved its tally from one in the last election to four this time.

The UDF made significant strides in the five municipalities that it won this time. In Mavelikara, the front won 15 seats. The NDA pushed the Left front to the third position after it bagged victory in eight seats. The LDF could manage to win only four seats. The UDF retained power in the Chengannur municipality by winning 13 seats while the NDA came second here with six seats. The Left front bagged five seats.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala congratulating UDF candidate Ajith Kumar for historic win in the Alappuzha municipality in the local body polls on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
Suresh Alleppey

In the Alappuzha municipality, the UDF emerged as the single largest front by winning 23 of the 53 wards. The LDF secured 21 seats while the NDA won in five. Four Independents, which included representatives of the Social Democratic Party of India and People’s Democratic Party, will play a key role in the formation of the new council. In the 2020 elections, the LDF had ruled the council with 35 seats while the UDF had won only 11 seats.

Impressive win

The UDF recorded an impressive win in the Haripad municipality after it won 16 seats. The LDF’s performance recorded a dip as it could manage to win only seven seats from 10 it had won in 2020. The Left front managed to retain control of the Cherthala municipality after it won 20 seats. The UDF won 10 seats while the NDA bagged victory in four seats.

The UDF wrested power from the LDF in the Kayamkulam municipality after it won 21 seats. The Left front, which had won 23 seats in 2020, was reduced to 13 seats this time. The NDA won five seats.