The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has retained power in Vengola grama panchayat with Shamitha Shereef of Pathippalam ward getting elected as its president on Monday (December 29, 2025). V.H. Muhammed of Kandanthara ward, also from the Congress, was elected the vice-president.
Ms. Shereef and Mr. Muhammed defeated Elsy Eldhose and Jaseela Noushad of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), respectively. The UDF candidates secured nine votes against the LDF’s eight. Twenty20 which has six members and Social Democratic Party of India which has one member abstained from voting.
The elections were conducted on Monday after it was postponed due to lack of a quorum on Saturday (December 27, 2025) when the heads of three-tier panchayats were held across the State. Both LDF and Twenty20 had stayed away from voting on Saturday leaving the council without the required number of 14 members to conduct the elections.
Of the 82 grama panchayats in the district, the UDF has assumed power in 71, including Kalloorkad, where it supported an Independent to the post of the president. The LDF has been restricted to seven while the Twenty20 gained power in four, including Poothrukka, where it won the president’s position through a draw of lots.
Published – December 29, 2025 08:37 pm IST
