UDF claims victory in local body byelections in 31 wards across Kerala

V D Satheesan claims UDF's success in Kerala by-elections signals growing public discontent with LDF government.

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan claimed that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had performed well in the byelections to the 31 LSGI wards in Kerala. 

Mr. Satheesan said the UDF had increased its seats from 13 to 17. He said the voting pattern indicated mounting public resentment against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. 

He said the UDF ended LDF rule in Thachanpara (Palakkad), Nattika (Thrissur) and Karimannur (Idukki) panchayats. 

Mr Satheesan said the UDF wrested nine seats from the LDF. 

In the Thrikkalangottu division in the Malappuram district panchayat, the UDF tripled its victory margin. In Manjeri municipality, the UDF recaptured Karuvambram ward after a 35-year hiatus. 

Mr Satheesan said the people had voted against the LDF government’s failure on multiple fronts. The votes punished the LDF for the government’s alleged corruption, nepotism, prolificacy and apathy regarding livelihood issues. 

He said the local body byelections were a bellwether of the State’s voting pattern. The current trend bore well for the UDF, which he said was on course to a thumping victory in the local body elections in 2025.