The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is surging ahead of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the local body elections in Kerala.
The polls are seen as a litmus test for the three parties LDF, UDF and the BJP-led NDA ahead of the next year’s assembly elections in the state.
The LDF was ahead in 514 of the 941 village panchayats, followed by UDF leading in 377 gram panchayats and NDA in 22 village panchayats. The LDF is also ahead over the UDF in district panchayats with a lead in 10 of the 14 panchayats followed by UDF with a lead in four. In block panchayats, LDF is leading in 109 of 152 blocks while UDF is ahead in 43 blocks.
The LDF won four of the six corporations. UDF bagged two corporations
The LDF, however, trailed behind UDF in municipalities where it was leading 35 of the 86 seats against UDF’s lead in 45 seats.
READ: Local Body Elections | Kerala keeps faith in the Left
Votes are being counted on December 16 for seats in 941 gram panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 14 district panchayats, 86 municipalities and six corporations.
The elections to 15,962 wards in 941 gram panchayats, 2080 wards in 152 block panchayats, 331 divisions in 14 district panchayats, 3078 wards in 86 municipalities and 414 wards in six municipal corporations were held in three phases on December 8, 10 and 14.
The LDF had won in most of the local bodies in 2015.
The local civic body elections will give a peak to the voters’ mood as the LDF looks for re-election in the state in 2021.
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