Hammered by corruption allegations, the alliance has still managed to score a win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, improving on its 2015 tally.
In local body polls seen as a litmus test for parties ahead of assembly elections in the state next year, the ruling Left-led coalition in Kerala is leading. Hammered by corruption allegations, the alliance has still managed to score a win in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, improving on its 2015 tally.
While the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in 371 out of 945 Grama Panchayats or village panchayats, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is leading in 515 seats. Among 86 municipalities, the UDF is leading in 45 and the LDF in 35.
941 gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 86 municipalities and six corporations went for polling and votes are being counted for the polls.
The LDF, in 2015, had won in most of the local bodies. In district panchayats, the UDF and LDF were at seven each.
In a close triangular fight in the key Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the LDF has a majority in 53 of 100 wards; the BJP-led NDA has 34 and the UDF remains in the third spot. The LDF had won 42 wards and the BJP alliance had 34 in 2015.
In a significant boost for the BJP, the party’s counselor has won in Kannur Corporation for the first time.
The polls were fought over significant issues such as the state’s coronavirus crisis and a gold smuggling case in which Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office has been drawn into corruption allegations. The LFD and UDF campaigned against each other.
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