Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod

Kasargod, Dec 13: The local body elections in Kasargod district witnessed a keen contest between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), with the LDF retaining control of the district panchayat.

Out of the six block panchayats in the district, the LDF won four, while the UDF secured two. Among the three municipalities, the LDF and UDF won one each, while no party secured a clear majority in one municipality.

In the gram panchayats, the UDF put up a strong performance. In Manjeshwar block, the UDF established dominance in all gram panchayats. In the previous term, the LDF had been in power in all gram panchayats except Enmakaje, where the Congress was in control. This time, the UDF emerged dominant in Manjeshwar, Vorkady, Meenja, Paivalike, Puthige, Enmakaje and Mangalpady gram panchayats.

In more than five gram panchayats in the district, no party secured a majority, making the stand of independent members crucial. Of the 38 gram panchayats, the UDF won control in 18, the LDF in 13, and the NDA in three, while five gram panchayats remained hung, with no clear majority.

District panchayat results

The LDF retained power in the district panchayat. Of the 18 seats, the LDF won nine, the UDF eight, and the NDA one. In the previous election, out of 17 seats, the LDF and UDF had won seven each, the BJP two, and an independent one, with the LDF forming the administration with the support of the independent member. This time, the BJP lost one seat but retained the Badiadka division, while losing the Puthige ward.

From the UDF, the elected members are: Ali Harshad (Vorkady), Somashekara J S (Puthige), Bincy Jain (Chittarikkal), Sukumari Sreedhar (Udma), Jesna Manaff (Chengala), P B Shafeeq (Civil Station), Azeez Kalathur (Kumbla), and Irfana Iqbal (Manjeshwar).

From the LDF, the elected members include: Vathsala (Delampady), Sabu Abraham (Kuttikol), Reena Thomas (Kallar), K Krishnan (Kayyur), Manu M (Pilikode), Dr Sareena Salim (Cheruvathur), K Sabish (Madikai), Soya K K (Periya), and Radhika T V (Bekal).

Block panchayat results

Of the six block panchayats, the LDF won four and the UDF two. Both fronts retained the block panchayats they had won last time. Kanhangad, Karadka, Nileshwar and Parappa were retained by the LDF, while Kasargod and Manjeshwar were retained by the UDF.

In Kanhangad block panchayat, of the 15 seats, the LDF won eight and the UDF seven. In Karadka, out of 14 seats, the LDF secured nine, the UDF three, and the NDA two. In Nileshwar, of the 14 seats, the LDF won eight and the UDF six. In Parappa, out of 15 seats, the LDF won eight and the UDF seven.

In Manjeshwar block panchayat, of the 16 seats, the UDF secured 11, the LDF two, and the BJP three. In Kasargod block panchayat, out of 18 seats, the UDF won 16, while the NDA secured two.

Municipal results

In the municipalities, the UDF retained Kasargod, while the LDF retained Nileshwar. In the LDF-held Kanhangad municipality, no party secured a majority.

In Kasargod municipality, out of 39 seats, the UDF won 24, the NDA 12, the LDF one, and others two. In Nileshwar municipality, of the 34 wards, the LDF won 20, the UDF 13, and others one.

In Kanhangad municipality, out of 47 wards, the LDF and UDF won 20 seats each, the NDA four, and others three. The three seats won by others have emerged as the deciding factor.

Hung panchayats

In Badiadka panchayat, no party secured a majority. Of the 21 seats, the UDF and NDA won 10 seats each, while the LDF won one seat, making it decisive. The UDF was in power here in the previous term.

In Bellur gram panchayat, there was no clear majority, with the NDA and independents winning six seats each, while the LDF won two seats, making its stand crucial.

In Delampady panchayat, the NDA and LDF won five seats each, the UDF four, and others four.

In Pullur-Periya, the UDF and NDA won nine seats each, with the NDA’s one additional seat proving decisive.

In Puthige, considered a stronghold of the CPM, no party secured a majority this time. The UDF and LDF won five seats each, the NDA three, while others won five seats, emerging as key decision-makers.

In the LDF-held Kanhangad municipality too, no party secured a majority this time. With others winning three seats, their role has become crucial. Of the 47 seats, the UDF and LDF won 20 each, the NDA four, and others three, resulting in a hung house.

Kasargod municipality has once again come under UDF control. Of the 39 seats, the UDF won 24, the NDA 12, the LDF one, and others two.

Recount ordered

Meanwhile, district election officer K Imba Shekhar has ordered a recount of votes in the Puthige and Bekal divisions of the district panchayat, following complaints received. The recount will be held on December 15 at 8 am.

In Puthige, Congress candidate Somashekara J S had defeated BJP’s Manikantha Rai by a narrow margin of 418 votes. In Bekal, LDF candidate Radhika T V had won against UDF’s Shahida Rasheed by a margin of just 267 votes.