Kannur: UDF has won the Kannur corporation deputy mayor election held on Friday. UDF candidate PK Ragesh was re-elected as deputy mayor with 28 votes. He defeated LDF candidate Vellora Rajan who won 27 votes. 

Interestingly, Congress regained the seat with a majority by one vote.

Ragesh won the election after KPA Salim who had earlier locked horns with Muslim League leadership voted for UDF.

Recently, KPA Salim who is a UDF Councillor and representative of Muslim League turned a rebel by joining LDF after having a dispute with the leadership. Because of this, PK Ragesh was defeated in the no-confidence motion.

Following this, deputy mayor election was conducted again. Hence, Muslim League leadership reached a consensus with Salim and he decided to favour UDF in the elections.

The fresh election was conducted after 86 days of deputy mayor PK Ragesh’s resignation. The election was delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

As UDF won the election, Mayor Suma Balakrishnan will vacate the post for Muslim League’s representative C Seenath as per the agreement with the allies.

Hence, the election was crucial for UDF.