AMN /
The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has emerged as a clear winner in The karala civic polls. BJP has made a firm entry in the regional political scenario.
Dealing a major blow to both UDF and LDF in the prestigious 100-member Thiruvananthauram Corporation, BJP wrested 34 wards, pushing UDF to third spot with 21 seats. LDF, which held the Corporation for the last two decades, won 42 wards, short of a simple majority.
In the last local body elections, BJP had won six seats.
UDF got 21 seats and others two seats. In six Municipal Corporations, out of the 414 seats, LDF has bagged 196 seats followed by UDF – 143 seats, BJP 51 seats and others 24 seats, according to latest report.
Out of the 3,078 Municipal wards, UDF attained a majority by winning 1,318 seats followed by LDF – 1263 seats.
BJP got 236 seats.
According to the results of the two-phased polls to the three-tier civic bodies held on November 2 and 5, LDF took control of four of the six city corporations, as many as 45 of the 86 municipalities and was way ahead in grama panchayats bagging 545 of the 941 at stake.
With UDF winning only two corporations, 40 municipalities and 366 grama panchayats, the Left front and BJP were quick to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Ommen Chandy, who led the ruling front’s campaign.
BJP, which has so far failed to taste success in assembly and Parliament elections in the state, won one municipality and 14 grama panchayats, but made significant inroads in several places especially Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Palakkad, posing stiff threat to both UDF and LDF.
BJP President Amit Shah’s ‘political agenda’ in Kerala to have cooperation with Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, an outfit of backward Ezhava community led by its general secretary Vellappaly Natesan seems to have paid off.