Kerala civic polls: Left shines in Kerala local body polls, BJP gains more seats

18:48 December 16

People repose faith in LDF, BJP fails miserably: Yechury on Kerala local body election trends

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, on Wednesday, lauded the commendable performance of Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the local body election in Kerala where counting of votes in the local body elections is inching towards the final lap.

The ruling LDF has gained a clear edge in the village, block, district panchayats, municipal and corporation councils in Kerala.

As per latest trends, the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF is leading in 516 out of the total 941 gram panchayats, according to the State Election Commission figures.

The Congress-led UDF was ahead in 375 gram panchayats while NDA is leading in 22 gram panchayats.

Out of the six corporations in the state, the LDF and the UDF were leading in three each.

Speaking to media, the CPI(M) general secretary said that the BJP has been cut to size in local body election and this is the victory of the political life taken by the CPI(M) and the left front and the LDF government in Kerala and alternative policy of BJP and its communal polarisation.

"First of all our congratulation and salute to the people of Kerala for reposing the faith in LDF government. It is not the BJP's gain on any ground despite all its misinformation and mispropaganda and despite the use of central agencies in order to defame and character assassinate of Chief Minister and all our leaders of LDF. They have failed miserably. Their claim was to control and capture the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation at least but they were dismal in the third position," Yechury told media.

16:00 December 16

Karat Faizal wins from Kozhikode's Koduvally Municipality

Karat Faizal, an independent candidate from Koduvally Municipality of Kozhikode, has managed to win. Faizal's name was previously removed from the list of LDF candidates following his alleged involvement in the gold smuggling case.

15:14 December 16

Four hours since the counting of votes in the Kerala local body polls commenced across the State, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) shows a clear lead.

The LDF has gained an upper hand in the leads and also in the wins announced so far across the local self-governance bodies- Corporations, Municipalities, NBlock Panchayaths and Gram Panchayaths in the State.

Going through the current results and lead status, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has faced significant setbacks in the traditionally Congress strongholds and has lost many sitting seats as well. 

12:57 December 16

As per trends, NDA leading in 22 wards, LDF- 26, UDF -4, in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

BJP District President VV Rajesh wins from Poojappura ward.

12:30 December 16

UDF Mayor candidate loses in Kochi  

Even as the vote counting of the Local Body elections in Kerala progresses, the failure of UDF’s Mayor candidate N Venugopal to Kochi Corporation indicates the hit back witnessed by the UDF, the opposition front in the State. 

N Venugopal, UDF’s Mayor candidate to Kochi Corporation lost to BJP candidate against one vote. 

11:58 December 16

BJP workers celebrate in Thiruvananthapuram, where counting is on, for  Kerala Local Body Election2020.

As per early trends of the local body poll results, the NDA is leading in 13 wards

11:21 December 16

Kerala local body poll results: 

LDF wins in 7 wards, NDA -3 and UDF-1, in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

As per trends, NDA leading in 14 wards, LDF- 21, UDF -4

S.Pushpalatha, LDF's mayor candidate has lost to NDA candidate by 145 votes.

10:52 December 16

Early trends of the Kerala local body poll results:  

Gram Panchayats-941

LDF -403

UDF -341

NDA-29

Others-56

Block Panchayats-152  

LDF-93

UDF-56

NDA-2

District Panchayats-14  

LDF-11

UDF-3

Municipality-86

LDF-38

UDF-39

NDA -3

Others -6

Corporations- 6  

LDF-8,  

UDF-2

10:47 December 16

As per early trends of the local body poll results, NDA leading in 5 wards, LDF- 21- UDF -27, Others- 5, in Kochi Corporation

10:47 December 16

Congress mayoral candidate N Venugopal, has lost to the BJP candidate by one vote, in the Kochi Corporation North Island ward, in the state's 2020 local body elections

10:47 December 16

As per early trends of the local body poll results, NDA leading in 13 wards, LDF- 12- UDF - 4, in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

08:17 December 16

Kerala local body polls: Counting of votes begins at 244 centres

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala):With all COVID-19 protocols in place, the counting of votes of Kerala local body elections began at 8 am on Wednesday.

According to the State Election Commission, the counting of votes will take place at 244 centres.

State Election Commissioner V Bhaskaran said the postal votes, including special ballot votes, will be counted first and EVM votes later.  

Earlier trends will be known once the counting of EVM votes is started. However, the final results are expected by 1 pm.

The local body polls were held in three phases in Kerala. 78.64 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the third and the final phase of the local body polls. The second phase recorded 76.38 per cent voter turnout and in the first phase, it was 72.67 per cent. 

Ahead of the result announcement, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area, has been imposed in Malappuram and some areas of Kozhikode and Kasargod districts to maintain law and order and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Malappuram district collector K Gopalakrishnan has imposed Section 144 in Malappuram from 8 pm to 8 am from December 16 to 22. The gathering of people and use of mike except at places of worship will not be allowed after 8 pm.

Victory celebrations can be conducted with a gathering of 100 people, in which children below the age of 10 and people above 65 except candidates cannot participate.

Kozhikode district collector Seeram Sambasiva Ras has prohibited any procession, public assembly of more than 5 persons within the limits of Vatakara, Nadapuram, Valayam, Kuttiady, and Perambra Police station limits in Kozhikode Rural Police district for a period of two days from 6 pm from December 15 to 6 pm till December 17 under section 144.

It has also ordered that all public gatherings (other than candidates and their agents authorised by a returning officer) of more than 5 persons are prohibited in the areas falling within a 500-meter radius of counting centres in the jurisdiction of Kozhikode Rural Police limit. Moreover, victory processions in the Kozhikode Rural Police district will be limited to ward/division and participation will be limited to 20 persons.

Kasargod District Collector Dr D Sajith Babu has imposed section 144 of CrPC from 12 noon on December 15 to 12 noon on December 17 in various areas within the limits of 10 police stations in the district. The ban was announced to ensure law and order in the wake of the announcement of local body election results tomorrow.

The district collectors have imposed section 144 of CrPC on the basis of reports from concerned district police chiefs. The clashes between party workers were reported in many places of these districts during the election.