The United Democratic Front (UDF) clinched a crucial victory in the Vizhinjam ward of Thiruvananthapuram corporation. This election had been postponed due to the tragic death of an independent candidate in a road accident.
Narrow Win Ends LDF's Decade-Long Hold
K H Sudheer Khan of UDF wrested the seat from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) after a ten-year gap. He won by a slender margin of just eighty-three votes. Khan secured 2,902 votes while his closest rival, N A Naushad of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), polled 2,819 votes.
BJP's Hopes Dashed in Thiruvananthapuram
BJP candidate Sarvashaktipuram Binu came third with 2,437 votes. This result effectively dashed the BJP's hopes of reaching a tally of fifty-one seats in the corporation. A rebel candidate from LDF, N A Rasheed, managed to secure 118 votes. This factor proved costly for the left front in the closely contested battle.
With this victory, the UDF's strength in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation increased to twenty seats. The LDF currently holds twenty-nine seats. Independents occupy the remaining two seats.
Revised Party Positions After Vizhinjam Result
Following the declaration of the Vizhinjam ward result, the revised party position in the corporation stands as follows. The UDF now has twenty seats. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds fifty seats. The LDF maintains twenty-nine seats. Independents account for the final two seats.
LDF Secures Victory in Onakkoor Ward
Meanwhile, in a separate by-election, the LDF candidate C B Rajeev emerged victorious in the Onakkoor ward. This ward is part of the Pampakuda grama panchayat in Ernakulam district.
Rajeev secured a convincing win with 558 votes. His nearest competitor, Jose T P Theliyammel of the UDF, polled only 337 votes. Independent candidate Paulose (Mainochan) and NDA candidate Sreekanth could muster only thirty-five and thirty-four votes respectively.
The Onakkoor ward was the only ward in Ernakulam district where the election had to be rescheduled. Polling was halted on December 9th following the sudden demise of the original UDF candidate, C S Babu.
UDF Registers Resounding Win in Payimbadam Ward
In another significant result, the UDF registered a resounding win in the Payimbadam ward bypoll. This ward is located in the Moothedam panchayat of Malappuram district.
UDF candidate Korambayil Subaida won the seat by a comfortable margin of 222 votes. Of the 800 votes polled, the UDF secured an impressive 501 votes. The LDF-backed independent candidate, Sebina, received 279 votes.
NDA candidate Anita got fourteen votes. Another independent candidate, Sebna, secured just six votes.
Bypoll Triggered by Candidate's Demise
This bypoll was necessitated after the demise of the original UDF candidate, V Haseena. Her unfortunate death occurred just three days before the originally scheduled polling date. This led to the postponement of the election.
With the UDF's victory in the Payimbadam ward, the front's strength in the Moothedam panchayat rose to seventeen members. Of the total eighteen wards in the panchayat, the LDF has won only a single ward.
