Reality check for UDF? Know early trends from Kerala's local body by-elections

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Early trends from the local body by-elections indicate a lead for the United Democratic Front, while the Left Democratic Front stays in the fight, putting up a strong performance. The vote margin of UDF showed a steep decline. The latest reports indicate the seat tally as follows: UDF 19, LDF 18, NDA 0, and Others 1.

In Idukki's Muttom Panchayat, the UDF wrested the 9th ward from the LDF. In Kannur, the LDF won both seats that went to the polls. Notably, the LDF wrested back the Bavode East ward in Peralassery—located within Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan's Dharmadam constituency from the UDF. K.V. Ratheesh won the seat by a margin of 65 votes. In the previous election, UDF had won the seat by 13 votes.

A.K. Suresh Kumar won by a margin of 276 votes in the Uruvachal ward of Mattannur Municipality. In the last election, CPM had won this seat by a margin of 269 votes. The LDF won in the Pattanchery Panchayat in Palakkad, while the UDF emerged victorious in the Chalakudy Municipality.

By-elections were held for 38 local body wards across the state. Voting took place on Monday for two corporation wards (in Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts), three municipality wards (in Thrissur, Palakkad, and Kannur districts), three district panchayat wards (in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, and Palakkad districts), seven block panchayat wards, and 23 grama panchayat wards. The elections were held for seats previously held by the UDF (22 seats) and the LDF (15 seats), while one seat was held by Twenty20. This is the first by-election since the local body elections held in 2025.