LDF surges ahead in Kerala civic body elections

CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) staged a comeback in Kerala local body poll on Saturday by winning a majority of corporation and municipalities.

CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) staged a comeback in Kerala local body poll on Saturday by winning a majority of corporation and municipalities in a contest considered as ‘semi-final’ before next year’s assembly elections.

People waiting outside a polling station during second phase of panchayat elections in Kochi. (PTI Photo)

This is the first time since 2006 when LDF has notched up a decisive win in the state.

In 2011 local body poll, the UDF had won 60% seats but this time it suffered a major jolt in some of its strongholds. LDF managed to make strong inroads in Muslim-dominated Malappuram and Kottyam districts.

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has thanked the people of Kerala for giving the LDF a decisive victory.

Interestingly, the BJP, which forged a tie up with the SNDP (Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam), improved its performance considerably. In Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, the Saffron party became the opposition pushing the ruling Congress-led UDF to a humiliating third position.

Read | Kerala civic elections see 74% polling with re-polls in many booths