LDF retains city corporation

KOZHIKODE:Overcoming the anti-incumbency factor, the LDF retained the  Kozhikode municipal corporation, its citadel,  which it has been holding for the last four decades.   It  won 48 of the 75 wards, bettering its record of  41  in 2010.  The results were a shocker for the UDF, which was reduced to 20 seats from the 34 in 2010.  The BJP created history  by grabbing seven seats from both the fronts. In the previous council, it  had no representation.

The CPM emerged as the single largest party with 44 seats bettering its tally of 39 in the previous council. The Congress was reduced to 10 from 17.  The BJP  captured Marad, Beypore port, Beypore, and Chevarambalam from the CPM  and  Karapparamba, Meenchanda and civil station from the UDF. Out of 19 sitting councillors, 14 have won.  The SDPI, which fielded candidates in three wards, couldn't win a single seat.

The LDF’s probable mayor candidate, V.K.C. Mammed Koya, won from Areekkad ward by 202 votes. Former mayor Thottathil Raveendran managed to win from Chakkorathukulam by 34 votes, where the BJP’s  M. Jagannathan came second. Another former mayor M.M Padmavathi (Medical College south), former mayor T.P. Dasan’s wife T.V. Lalitha Prabha (Thiruthiyad) and welfare standing committee chairman M. Radhakrishnan Master (Eranhikkal) are some of the other prominent LDF candidates who won. Health standing committee chairperson Janamma Kunjunni lost to Ms Prameela Balagopalan in Vellimadukkunnu ward for 184 votes.

UDF mayor candidate P.M. Suresh Babu beat CPI Independent Bhasi Malapparamba  in Paroppadi ward by 289 votes.  Mr  P.M. Niyas (Chalappuram), education standing committee chairperson Ushadevi teacher (Palayam), DCC president K.C. Abu’s daughter K.C. Shobhitha (Malappramba) and P. Kishan Chand (Nadakkav) are some major UDF candidates who emerged victorious.

VKC tipped to be Kozhikode mayor
As the LDF won thumping victory in the Kozhikode corporation by retaining their supremacy of last four decades, the focus would be now shifted to the mayor probable. The CPM, which alone won 44 seats in the council, have two former mayors and a former MLA in their kitty. However, former Beypore MLA V.K.C. Mammed Koya’s name is in the top of the list considering for mayor post by the party. Thottathil Raveendran and M.M. Padmavathi are the two former mayors in the new council.

V.K.C., who won from Areekkad ward by 202 votes, beat S.V. Syed Muhammed Shamil of UDF and BJP candidate and film director Ali Akbar. He was the MLA of Beypore constituency which also include Areekkad, during 2001-2006. V.K.C. started his political career as Areekkad-Nallalam grama panchayat President. He also served as the member and vice president of  Kozhikode district panchayat. At present, he is CPM Feroke area committee member and Karshaka Sangham district vice president.

On the other hand, former mayor Thottathil Raveendran beat BJP’s M Jagannathan by 34 votes in a neck to neck contest at Chakkorathukulam. He is undoubtedly  most popular leader of CPM in city.
 

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