Thiruvananthapuram: Counting of votes is underway for the by-elections held in 38 local body wards across Kerala. The elections, held on September 28, are the first local electoral test since the UDF government came to power in the state. Counting began at 10 am on Tuesday.

The by-elections were held across 12 districts, covering corporation, municipality, district panchayat, block panchayat and grama panchayat wards. A total of 126 candidates contested the elections. The overall voter turnout was 58.81 per cent.

Results are being declared as counting progresses.

Results so far (as of 11.55 am)

The district-wise categorisation, without individual panchayat names.

LDF- 18

  • Thiruvananthapuram - 3

  • Kottayam - 2

  • Ernakulam - 1

  • Thrissur - 2

  • Palakkad - 5

  • Malappuram - 2

  • Kannur - 2

  • Kasaragod - 1

UDF- 19

  • Thiruvananthapuram - 2

  • Pathanamthitta - 4

  • Kottayam - 1

  • Idukki - 1

  • Ernakulam - 2

  • Thrissur - 3

  • Palakkad - 2

  • Malappuram - 2

  • Kozhikode - 1

  • Wayanad - 1

Others - 1

  • Ernakulam - 1 (Twenty20)

Total: 38 wards
LDF: 18 | UDF: 19 | Others: 1

 

Thiruvananthapuram

The NDA retained the Varkala Block Panchayat's Ottoor division. LDF candidate P. Beena of the CPI(M) won with a majority of 925 votes.

  • LDF: 2,622

  • NDA: 1,697

  • UDF: 1,198

  • Others: 52

The BJP finished second.

Thrissur

The UDF won the Kurumala 16th ward of Chelakkara Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Rajitha Nechikkottil won by 73 votes.

The result is significant for the composition of the 24-member panchayat. The UDF and LDF had 12 members each. Earlier, CPI(M) member P.N. Ramachandran had voted for Congress candidate T. Gopalakrishnan in the presidential election, enabling Gopalakrishnan to be elected president without a draw of lots.

Ramachandran subsequently resigned as ward member following the cross-voting.

With Rajitha Nechikkottil's victory, the UDF's strength in the panchayat has risen to 13, while the LDF has 11 members.

Palakkad

The Paruthikkavu 24th ward of Chittur-Thathamangalam Municipality witnessed a tie between the LDF and UDF, with both fronts polling 433 votes. The BJP received 28 votes.

A toss was conducted after the tie, with the LDF winning it. The ward had previously been won by UDF MLA Sumesh Achuthan.

The LDF retained the Parakkattuchalla ward of Pathanassery Grama Panchayat. LDF (CPI-M) candidate Bindu Kumari won by 18 votes.

The UDF retained the Vettom ward of Karimba Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Abdul Jaleel won by 335 votes.

The UDF also captured the Ragam Corner ward of Sreekrishnapuram Grama Panchayat from the LDF. UDF candidate P. Gireesan won by 48 votes.

Ernakulam

Twenty20 retained the Kolanchery East ward of Poothrikka Grama Panchayat. Its candidate Dinamma Jacob won by 96 votes.

The UDF retained the Madaplathuruthu East ward of Vadakkekara Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Jose Kuniyanthodath won by 140 votes.

Pathanamthitta

The UDF retained the Othara ward of Kuttoor Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Rabeeshmon Ravi won by 148 votes.

The UDF captured the Vallokunnu ward of Kunnathanam Grama Panchayat from the LDF. Radhamaniyamma won by just two votes.

The UDF retained the Kallelly ward of Aruvappulam Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Anila won by 112 votes.

Malappuram

The UDF retained the Poongudaya ward of Vengara Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Haseena Fazal won by 808 votes.

Kannur

The LDF captured the Bavode East ward of Peralassery Grama Panchayat from the UDF. K.V. Ratheesan of the LDF won by 65 votes.

The LDF also retained the Uruvachal division of Mattannur Municipality. LDF candidate A.K. Suresh Kumar won by 276 votes.

Kasaragod

The LDF retained the Pilikode ward of Pilikode Grama Panchayat. LDF candidate T. Omana won by 297 votes.

Idukki

The UDF captured the Thudanganad ward of Muttom Grama Panchayat from the LDF. UDF candidate Elsamma Tom Edett won by 188 votes.

Kottayam

The UDF retained the Cheeramkulam ward of Meenadom Grama Panchayat. UDF candidate Preetha Prasad won by 162 votes.

Thrissur

UDF candidate V.O. Pailappan won the Municipal Office division of Chalakudy Municipality by 345 votes. The ward was a UDF sitting seat.

Kozhikode

The UDF is leading by 160 votes in the Kuttichira division of Kozhikode Corporation. The result is yet to be declared.

More results will be added as the counting progresses.