The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Setback for LDF in bypolls

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Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Setback for LDF in bypolls

Special Correspondent

CPI(M) loses three seats to Congress

– Photo: C.R.K.

Victory procession: CPI(M) candidate S. Anilkumar who was declared elected to the city corporation council from the Medical College ward on Tuesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a serious setback, losing four of the five seats it held, in the byelections to six wards in local self-government institutions in the district, results of which were announced here on Tuesday.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) claimed three wards held by the LDF, while the BJP claimed one. The UDF retained one seat.

The LDF was left with just one seat, the Medical College ward in the City Corporation, where CPI(M) candidate S. Anilkumar won by 74 votes over his nearest rival T.V. Ajithkumar of the Indian National Congress (INC).

In the elections to the Paraniyam ward of the Poovar grama panchayat, M.R. Saburaj (INC) won by 98 votes while in the Paruthupara ward of the Karunkulam gram panchayat, Sasidharan (INC) was returned by a margin of 129 votes.

V.T. Sushama Devi (INC) was declared elected from the Kattakonam ward in the Mudakkal grama panchayat by a margin of 92 votes while Saifuddin (INC) won by 10 votes in the Palachira ward of the Cherunniyoor panchayat.

While the INC wrested the Paraniyam, Paruthupara and Kattakonam wards from the CPI (M), it retained the Palachira ward.

BJP victory

The BJP registered a victory in the Thuduppottukonam ward of the Vilavoorkal grama panchayat. Their candidate K. Rajappan won by a margin of 17 votes over his nearest INC rival.

The LDF had to contend with the third position here. District Congress Committee president V.S. Sivakumar said the verdict reflected the public disenchantment with the LDF government in Kerala.

He said the price rise, hike in bus charge, power cut, the problems in the educational sector, breakdown of law and order and anti-development policies of the government had alienated the people.

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