The Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) political experiment of fielding Independent candidates in the Koduvally municipality seems to have made not much of an impact. When the results of the local body polls were declared on Saturday, a majority of those candidates lost to their rivals.
Of the 37 candidates fielded by the LDF, 31 were Independents, who contested under the ‘glass’ symbol of the National Secular Conference floated by Kunnamangalam MLA P.T.A. Raheem. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) contested in six wards.
When the results were declared, the United Democratic Front (UDF) won 21 seats, the LDF three and others won 13 seats. Among the others, eight are supported by the LDF and the rest by the UDF. Those who lost included Karat Faisal, incumbent councillor, who had hit headlines when he was questioned in connection with the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case.
In 2020, he had won from the Chundappuram ward though the LDF disowned him. The LDF candidate, O.P. Rasheed, had polled zero votes then. This time, the LDF declared him its own candidate.
Published – December 13, 2025 07:42 pm IST
