UDF dominates local body elections

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just five months remaining for the next Assembly elections, the UDF recorded a sweeping victory in the local body polls, dismantling several traditional Left strongholds. In the elections held to 23,611 wards across 1,200 local bodies, ranging from municipal corporations to grama panchayats, the UDF won nearly half of the wards.

The UDF also established complete dominance in the Malappuram district. The LDF was reduced to just four panchayats, one block panchayat and two municipalities in the district.

As the results closely resemble the UDF’s strong performance in the 2010 local body elections, the perception that the UDF could return to power at the state level has gained strength. The outcome is being widely viewed as a reflection of strong anti-incumbency sentiment. The fact that the LDF failed to dominate even a single district has shocked Left circles.

Adding to the setback for the LDF and the CPM was the loss of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which had remained a Left stronghold for nearly 45 years. For the first time, the NDA, led by the BJP, captured the corporation, dealing a major blow to the Left Front and the CPM.