ALAPPUZHA: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates were elected president and vice-president of the Alappuzha district panchayat, 12 block panchayats and a majority of the 73 grama panchayats in the district in the elections held on Thursday.

In the elections to the post of chairman and vice-chairman in the five municipalities in the district, the UDF candidates were elected in three municipalities while the LDF candidates emerged winners in two municipalities.

The elections were a tame affair with the results going on expected lines. In the 23-member Alappuzha district panchayat, R. Nazar of the CPI (M) was elected president. Mr. Nazar won 19 votes. UDF candidate John Thomas of the Congress got four votes. Mr. Nazar represents the Mararikkulam division of the district panchayat. T.P. Mangalamma of the CPI (M), who represents the Kanjikkuzhy division, was elected vice-president of the panchayat. In Cherthala municipality, P. Shaji Mohan of the CPI (M) was elected chairman. Mr. Shaji Mohan polled 22 votes against 10 votes polled by his opponent K.N. Syed Muhammed of the Congress. The CPI councillor P.K. was elected vice-chairman here. The CPI (M) district committee member P.P. Chitharanjan was elected chairman of Alappuzha municipality. Mr. Chitharanjan defeated the Congress nominee A.A. Shukkoor. Of the 47 votes polled, Mr. Chitharanjan got 28 votes against 19 polled by Mr. Shukkoor. Three councillors, an independent councillor George James, the BJP member K. Babu and the PDP member Reshma Iqbal, abstained from voting. An independent, Illikkal Kunjumon, voted in favour of Mr. Chitharanjan. The CPI councillor Elgin Richard was elected vice-chairman of Alappuzha municipality. The Congress councillor K. Pushpadas was elected chairman of Kayamkulam municipality. While Mr. Pushpadas got 22 votes, Ganakumar of the CPI (M) got18. Here, P.K. Kochukunju of the IUML was elected vice-chairman. He defeated A. Ajikumar of the LDF. Mr. Kochukunju polled 22 votes against 17 votes won by Mr. Ajikumar. Two votes were declared invalid in the election here. The Congress councillor Lalitha Ravindranath was elected chairperson of Mavelikkara municipality. In Chengannur municipality, Regi John of the Congress was elected the municipal chairman.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail