UDF makes major gains in civic bodies in Palakkad

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has made gains in the civic body elections in Palakkad district, improving its standing across municipalities, the district panchayat, block panchayats and grama panchayats compared to 2020.

Although the Left Democratic Front (LDF) retained control of the Palakkad district panchayat, its victory lacked the sheen it enjoyed in 2020. The LDF won 19 of the 31 seats, while the UDF secured 12. UDF had only three seats in 2020.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which had hoped to win a seat or two in the district panchayat, faced a disappointing outcome.

In the 13 block panchayats, the LDF won nine while the UDF secured three, with one block remaining without a clear majority. This marks a shift from 2020, when the LDF had won 11 blocks and the UDF only two.

LDF’s losses

The LDF suffered notable losses in the district’s municipalities. Of the seven municipalities, it managed to win only two: Shoranur and Ottapalam. The UDF claimed victory in Chittur-Thathamangalam, Cherpulassery, Mannarkkad, and Pattambi, while the NDA retained control of the Palakkad municipality.

In 2020, LDF had won five municipalities and UDF and NDA one each. This time, UDF wrested Pattambi, Cherpulassery and Chittur-Thattamanagalam from LDF.

Although the BJP fell short of a majority by two seats in Palakkad, it retained control of the municipality as the party secured the largest number of councillors.

The NDA secured a total of 52 municipal seats in the district, including 25 in Palakkad municipality. It emerged as the main opposition in Ottappalam and Shoranur municipalities, winning 12 seats in each. However, its performance in the other municipalities was dismal, capturing just one seat each in Cherpulassery, Mannarkkad and Pattambi, and failing to win any in Chittur-Thathamangalam.

In the district’s 88 panchayats, the LDF claimed 46 panchayat councils, the UDF 31 and the NDA two. Nine panchayats, Ayiloor, Chalavara, Eruthempathy, Kottayi, Mathur, Parali, Thenkara, Vadakkenchery and Vilayur, remained hung, with no party securing a majority.

In 2020, the LDF had won 63 panchayats and the UDF 23.