KOTTAYAM: UDF has taken power in the Kidangur village panchayat with the support of BJP. UDF had only three members. The UDF-BJP alliance was formed in the Kidangur gram panchayat presidential election. Joseph Group's Thomas Maliyekkal was elected as the president after the BJP members voted for the UDF's presidential candidate. With this, the Left Front lost its rule. The election for the post of Vice President will be held today.

In the Kidangur Panchayat, the seat status is LDF-3, BJP-5, UDF-3 and CPM-3. Thomas Maliyekkal won by defeating E M Binu of the Left Front by eight votes to seven. According to the agreement of the Left Front, the election was held due to the vacancy created by the resignation of the Mani group president. LDF President Kerala Congress's representative, Bobby Mathew, and CPM Vice President Hemaraj submitted their resignations by default. It was agreed that the first two-and-a-half years would be for the Kerala Congress, and then for two-and-a-half years for the CPM.

At the same time, LDF Kottayam district convener, Prof Lopez Mathew, said, ‘This is a rehearsal by the UDF before the Puthupally elections.’ Lopez alleged that this is a repeat of what happened in Pala and Kattururthi in the last assembly elections.

CPM leader E S Binu said that the UDF reached an agreement in Kidangur to support Chandy Oommen in Puthupally. He added that the UDF cannot win without the support of the BJP.