THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The counting of votes for Monday’s election in 28 local wards of the state is in progress. CPM retained the Sreevaraham ward of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in a nail-biting finish. V Harikumar defeated BJP candidate Mini by just 12 votes. The UDF captured the CPM sitting seat of Kochupally in Karumkulam gram panchayat. UDF candidate Xavier Jaron won by 169 votes. SDPI meanwhile captured the UDF sitting seat in Pulippara of Pangode gram panchayat. Congress came third. SDPI candidate Mujeeb Pulippara won by 674 votes.

The LDF retained the Kalluvathukkal division sitting seat in the Kottarakkara municipality of Kollam district. CPI's Manju Sam won by 198 votes. In Kottara, LDF retained the sitting seat after CPM's Valsamma won by 900 votes. CPM candidate Jayadevi won the Clappana Panchayat Prayar South B sitting seat with 277 votes.

The UDF retained the Edamulackal Grama Panchayat West West seat. Sheeja Dileep of Congress won by 24 votes.

LDF independent candidate won the Kumbazha seat in Pathanamthitta Municipality. Bijimol Mathew of LDF won by three votes. UDF won in the Thadiyur ward of Ayirur gram panchayat. Preeta Nair of Congress won by 106 votes. LDF’s Sobhika Gopi won Puramattam Gram Panchayat - Galaxy Nagar Ward by 152 votes.

LDF candidate Mangalanandan won by 171 votes in Alappuzha Kavalam gram panchayat-Palodam ward. Muttar panchayat Mithrakari East UDF candidate Binsi won by 15 votes. UDF won the Kottayam Ramapuram gram panchayat GV school ward. Rajitha of Congress defeated BJP candidate Aswathi by 235 votes. In the Idukki Vathikudy Panchayat Devambedu ward, LDF candidate Binu won by seven votes.

UDF won Malappuram Karulai Panchayat Chakittamala Ward. Vipin from the league won by 397 votes. UDF candidate Abdul Jabbar won by 260 votes in Thirunavaya Grama Panchayat Edakulam East Ward.

UDF did a coup in Purameri Kunjallur Ward in Kozhikode. UDF candidate Ajayan won by a majority of 20 votes. LDF was elected unopposed in the Kasaragod Madikai ward.

Elections were announced for 30 wards in the districts except Wayanad. Candidates in two wards were elected unopposed. Voting was held for 28 wards. Voting was held in two block panchayat wards, three municipality wards and 22 gram panchayat ward