Kerala Local Body Poll Results: LDF Wins Big As Congress In Doldrums; BJP Makes Minor Inroads

Left Democratic Front (LDF) appeared to make a sweep of the local body polls in the state, while the BJP seemed to have made minor inroads, winning in Sabarimala municipality.

LDF supporters celebrate their party's lead in the Kerala local body elections in Kochi. (Image: PTI)

Thiruvananthapuram: After a day-long round of vote counting, the ruling Left-led Coalition in Kerala bagged a massive victory in the local body polls which was considered as a litmus test for all contenders months ahead of the state Assembly elections. As per latest trends, Left Democratic Front (LDF) appeared to make a sweep of the local body polls in the state, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seemed to have made minor inroads, winning in Sabarimala municipality. As per Election Commission trends, the LDF won/leading 514 gram panchayats, five corporations and 11 district panchayats, prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to attribute the good show to the people of the state. "Thank you Kerala. Thank you for reposing faith in LDF. We are humbled by the trust and the confidence of the people of Kerala. This is a victory for secularism and inclusive development. My warm greetings to all the elected representatives," Kerala CM tweeted claiming poll victory.

Thank you Kerala. Thank you for reposing faith in LDF. We are humbled by the trust and the confidence of the people of Kerala. This is a victory for secularism and inclusive development. My warm greetings to all the elected representatives. pic.twitter.com/KGnAb6Xj4f

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) December 16, 2020

A Vijayaraghavan, LDF convener, who also holds the charge of CPI(M) state secretary, said the poll outcome showed that people have rejected the 'false campaign' against the party and the Chief Minister. Congress-led UDF emerges as runner-up While on the other hand, the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was in the second spot, winning/leading over 400 local bodies. UDF was winning/ leading in 375 grama panchayats, 44 block panchayats, 45 municipalities and three district panchayats. UDF leaders-- KPCC President Mullapally Ramachandran, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the claims that the party-led front had been routed was baseless. The front has not lost ground in any of its traditional bastions. BJP's minor inroads in Kerala As per latest trends, the BJP was winning/leading 23 grama panchayats and two municipalities. However, making significant inroads, the saffron party managed to bag the Pandalam, which was the centre of protests against the entry of women of the banned age group into the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine. Though the BJP could not put up a spectacular show, it still seemed to better its 2015 record, where it won 14 gram panchayats and the lone Palakkad municipality. During 2015 polls in Kerala, the LDF bagged most of the local bodies. However, in district panchayats, both UDF and LDF were at seven each. The three phase polling, as per strict COVID-19 protocol, was held in a total of 21,893 wards in 1,200 local self governing bodies--including six corporations, 941 village panchayats, 14 district panchayats and 87 municipalities on December 8, 10 and 14.