PALAKKAD: The BJP got the votes of a CPM member in the Village Panchayat President election. The incident took place in Akathethara Panchayat in Palakkad. Lalithambika, a 16th ward member, voted for BJP.

In 17 wards of the panchayat, the LDF has 10 members and NDA has seven members. After the voting, the NDA got eight votes and the LDF nine. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the LDF member had voted for BJP.

CPM leaders said they would investigate the lapse from the whip violation on the issue. Sunitha, who won from the seventh ward, was elected as the president of Akathethara Panchayat. N Mohanan, who won from the first ward, was elected as the Vice President.