After local polls drubbing, Left manage to retain Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE - After suffering heavy electoral reverses in Kerala’s 13 districts in the local body polls, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) managed to hold on to leads in all segments in Kozhikode district.

Though all other results were out Wednesday, counting of votes for Kozhikode was taken up only Sunday following a court directive.

At the Kozhikode municipal corporation, the LDF won 41 seats while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 34 seats — an increase of 10 seats compared to the 2005 polls.

Likewise, in the two municipalities of the district, the LDF managed to hold on to power but with a reduced margin.

At the district panchayat, the LDF was leading in 15 of the 28 seats while the UDF was leading in 12. In 2005, the LDF had won 26 of the 28 seats.

The LDF was ahead in the block panchayat polls as well. It was leading in 7 of the 12 panchayats while the UDF was leading in four.

In 2005, the Left had won in 11 of the 12 panchayats.

But at the gram panchayats, the UDF hugely improved their performance and were leading in 35 panchayats while the LDF was ahead in 38. The LDF had won 67 seats in the last polls.

In the rest 13 districts for which results came out Wednesday, the UDF made a remarkable comeback and won two of the four corporations and edged past the LDF at the municipalities, district panachayat, block level and at the gram panachayat levels.

Addressing reporters, state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala said the party has done remarkably well as compared to the 2005 polls.