The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) have won 10 seats each in the byelections held to 23 local body wards, but the LDF had more reasons to cheer as it managed to wrest a number of seats from both the UDF and BJP.
The LDF [CPI candidate] won the Vellar ward in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the only Corporation ward in the fray, from the BJP. Panathura P. Baiju of the CPI defeated his BJP rival by a margin of 151 votes, the State Election Commission said on February 23 (Friday).
When the results of Thursday’s bypolls were out on Friday, the UDF won 10 seats, the LDF also secured 10, including one Left-backed Independent, and the BJP, three.
