UDF manages to hold its fort
Front retains corporation, district panchayat and eight out of 13 municipalities
KOCHI: The Congress and UDF have managed to check the LDF juggernaut in the local body elections in Ernakulam district by winning the Kochi Corporation and eight out of the 13 municipalities in the district.
The UDF has also managed to retain the district panchayat and nine out of the 13 block panchayats.
The performance of the Congress and UDF appeared credible despite many party activists contesting as rebels in many wards.
The congress however suffered a major setback in Tripunithura municipality as the party was pushed to the third spot with the BJP emerging second while the LDF won the municipality.
The Congress and the UDF retained its strongholds of Aluva, Kalamassery, Thrikkakkara and captured the newly formed Piravom and Koothattukulam municipalities.
The victory margin in these places came down compared with the elections in 2010.
Although the UDF maintained the upper hand in the district, the LDF improved its tally by winning five municipalities. In addition to retaining its stronghold of Muvattupuzha municipality, the LDF succeeded in Eloor, Angamaly, Perumbavoor and Tripunithura municipalities.
Maradu municipality ended in a hung verdict with both the UDF and LDF claiming 15 seats each.
The UDF, however, is hopeful of capturing power as three independents who have won the elections contested as Congress rebels.
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