Edge for LDF in local body bypolls; UDF increases its tally from 9 to 12

WITH the local body elections in the state approaching, the results of the byelection held in 28 wards came as a relief to both the LDF and UDF, giving an edge to the ruling front.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @T'Puram

WITH the local body elections in the state approaching, the results of the byelection held in 28 wards came as a relief to both the LDF and UDF, giving an edge to the ruling front. While the LDF could maintain the status quo of last time winning 17 seats in which two were elected unopposed, the UDF could increase its tally from nine to 12 seats.

Meanwhile, a candidate of the SDPI, a political offshoot of PFI, emerged as a surprise winner in Thiruvananthapuram seizing the sitting seat from the Congress. However, the election results came as a huge setback for the BJP which has been claiming to create magic in the next LSG election. The byelection was held to a ward in Thiruvananthapuram corporation, three municipality wards and 24 panchayat wards.

Of these, CPM won 12 seats.