Payimpadam ward in Malappuram goes to ballots after UDF candidate’s death

Malappuram (Kerala): Polling began on Monday in the Payimpadam ward of Moothedam gram panchayat in Malappuram district, Kerala, where voting was postponed earlier following the death of a UDF candidate.

The Payimpadam ward, the seventh of Moothedam panchayat’s 17 wards, recorded steady voter turnout since polling opened. A total of 991 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots at the polling station set up at Karappuram Crescent UP School. Voting will continue until 6 pm, officials said.

The election was deferred after UDF candidate Vattath Haseena died three days before the scheduled polling date. While the panchayat ward election was postponed, voting in the district and block divisions had already taken place. Counting of votes will be held on January 13.

Earlier, the UDF won 16 of the 17 wards in Moothedam panchayat, while the LDF secured victory in one ward. Elections are also being held in the Vizhinjam ward of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the Onakkur ward of Pampakuda gram panchayat in Ernakulam district.

Meanwhile, Kerala completed its mayoral elections on December 26, with women leaders assuming charge in Kochi, Kannur and Thrissur municipal corporations.

UDF councillors V K Minimol, P Indira, and Dr Niji Justin were sworn in as mayors of Kochi, Kannur and Thrissur, respectively.

The remaining corporations—Kollam, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram—will be led by men. UDF councillor A K Hafees took charge in Kollam, LDF councillor O Sadasivan became mayor of Kozhikode, and BJP leader V V Rajesh assumed office as mayor of Thiruvananthapuram following the party’s historic majority win. Rajesh pledged inclusive governance and balanced development, promising equal focus on all 101 wards.

In Pala municipality, history was created with the election of its youngest-ever woman chairperson, Diya Binu Pulikakkandam, who secured 14 votes with UDF backing after independents aligned their support.

In Kochi, KPCC general secretary and councillor Deepthy Mary Varghese congratulated newly elected mayor V K Minimol, settling internal disputes over leadership selection. However, Thrissur’s mayoral election triggered controversy following allegations from Congress councillor Lali James, who accused party leadership of “selling” the post.

The ongoing polling and leadership transitions mark a crucial phase in Kerala local body elections 2026, shaping administrative control across key civic bodies and panchayat governance.

ANI