The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Excellent show by LDF in district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 29, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Excellent show by LDF in district

Staff Reporter

Recounting on in many booths

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left Democratic Front-Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) alliance has put in an impressive performance in the elections to the district, block and grama panchayats in the district.

When the results of 19 divisions in the 28-member district panchayat were announced on Wednesday, the LDF won 14, UDF four and the DIC(K) one.

The LDF won majority in 10 block panchayats, namely Athiyanoor, Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram rural, Kazhakoottam, Vellanad, Nedumangad, Vamanapuram, Kilimanoor, Chirayinkeezh and Varkala.

The UDF won two, Parassala and Perumgadavila block panchayats.

As many as 67 grama panchayats were won by the LDF and seven by the UDF. Four panchayats have hung committees, where neither front got a clear majority.

Following disputes over securing majority, recounting is on in many booths.

Prominent leaders win

Almost all prominent leaders fielded by the LDF in the district panchayat were returned with a comfortable majority.

Outgoing president Sasikala Sivasankar was elected from Vellanad division with a margin of 3,550 votes. CPI(M) leader Aanavoor Nagappan, who is tipped to be the next president, was returned from Kunnathukal with a majority of 7,924 votes.

Senior CPI(M) leader B.P.Murali was elected from Kilimanoor division with a margin of 8,141 votes.

The DIC (K), which fielded three candidates, could return only Ragini R.Pillai from Vattiyoorkavu division.

Its two other candidates, Kottamam Vinod, who contested from Parassala, and H.P.Shaji from Kaniyapuram, lost to UDF candidates.

Mr.Vinod was defeated by the Congress candidate, A.T.George and Mr. Shaji lost to S.A. Vahid of the Indian Union Muslim League.

Mr. George has the highest margin of 8,916 votes among the UDF candidates who won the elections.

Ms. Pillai defeated the Congress candidate, J.Radhakrishnan Nair. Ms.Pillai and Mr.Vinod were among the sitting members of the panchayat who resigned pledging support to K.Karunakaran following the split in the Congress.

Prominent among the UDF winners are Aanad Jayan who was elected from Aanad, Ansjitha Russel from Vellarada and G.Sivadasan from Kallara divisions of the district panchayat.

Communication delay

The communication delay in sending the results from the counting centres and issuing certificates on time led to confusion.

Even when the candidates reached the Collectorate from the counting centres with the claim of getting elected, the election officials were at a loss in confirming their claims.

The announcement of results was delayed. After sorting out the disputes over majority, a clear picture about the majority of the fronts in the local bodies institutions is likely to emerge within the next two days, sources said.

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