Live News Local Body By-Election: Vote Counting Underway; Gain for LDF

LDF candidate V Ponnukuttan won the by-election to the Pallassana division of the Palakkad district panchayat by a margin of 10,688 votes. The LDF retained the seat, which fell vacant after T M Shashi was elected as an MLA.

LDF has wrested the Thrikkodithanam division of Kottayam district panchayat from the UDF in the by-election. LDF candidate Manju Sujith defeated UDF candidate Vijay Jose Maret by a margin of 2,140 votes.

LDF Wins in Chittur–Thathamangalam Municipality; Wrests Chittur MLA’s Sitting Ward

Palakkad: LDF candidate V Thulasidharan won the by-election to a ward in Chittur-Thathamangalam municipality that had been represented by Congress leader Suresh Achuthan. The LDF and UDF candidates secured 433 votes each, with the LDF candidate winning through a draw of lots.

The by-election was held following the resignation of Suresh Achuthan, a former municipality chairperson and MLA.

LDF Wrests Alathur Block Panchayat Ward From UDF

Palakkad: The LDF has won the by-election to the Athippotta ward of Alathur block panchayat, wresting the seat from the UDF, which had won it in the previous election.

LDF candidate Rekha Santhosh won by a margin of 790 votes. Of the 7,387 votes polled, Rekha secured 3,638 votes. UDF candidate Rubia Ashraf received 2,748 votes, while BJP candidate Vrinda Shanmuvan secured 1,001 votes.

The by-election was held following the resignation of K M Shameera, who had won the ward by a margin of 224 votes in the previous election, after securing a government job.

LDF Retains Two Panchayat Wards in Malappuram

Malappuram: The LDF and UDF retained two panchayat wards each in the by-elections held in Malappuram district. The LDF won in Kadannamanna ward of Mankada panchayat and Verur ward of Kaladi panchayat.

In Kadannamanna (Ward 4) of Mankada panchayat, LDF candidate Pathutti Abdurahiman Poonthottathil won by a margin of 49 votes, securing 634 votes.

In Verur (Ward 12) of Kaladi panchayat, LDF candidate M S Abhilash won by a margin of 341 votes.

LDF Wins Edathirinjy Division By-Election by 1,252 Votes

Irinjalakuda: The LDF has won the by-election to the Edathirinjy division of Vellangallur block panchayat. CPI candidate V R Ramesh won by a margin of 1,252 votes.

Ramesh secured 2,889 votes. UDF candidate E N Sreenath received 917 votes, while BJP candidate Bijoy Kalarikkal secured 1,637 votes.

LDF Wrests Chirayinkeezhu Block’s Anjuthengu Division From UDF

Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF has wrested the Anjuthengu division of Chirayinkeezhu block panchayat from the UDF. LDF candidate S Bijimol won the by-election.

The election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of UDF member B S Anoop.

LDF Wins in Parakkadavu Panchayat

Ernakulam: LDF candidate Sugandhi Joshi won the by-election to Puliyanam South ward of Parakkadavu panchayat by a margin of 207 votes. The by-election was held after sitting member Raji Rajeev resigned to take up a job abroad.

In Kolenchery East ward of Poothrikka panchayat, Twenty20 candidate Deenamma Jacob won by a margin of 96 votes. The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Twenty20's Pooja Jomon over the party's alliance with the NDA.

In the Ayyappankavu division of Kochi Corporation, UDF candidate A K Ajithkumar won by a margin of 549 votes. The by-election was held after former UDF councillor Deepak Joy was elected as an MLA.

LDF Wins Pambady Panchayat Ward 10 By-Election

Kottayam: LDF candidate Sunny Varghese of the CPI(M) won the by-election to Ward 10 (Kumbanthanam) of Pambady grama panchayat.

The LDF wrested the sitting seat from the UDF by a margin of 66 votes. The by-election was held following the death of Congress member Babu Mathew Danavunkal.

After the result was announced, LDF workers held a celebration, greeting the voters.

LDF Wins Thalikulam Panchayat Ward by 29 Votes

Thrissur: LDF candidate Biji Krishna Ghosh won the by-election to the Aryampadam ward of Thalikulam panchayat by a margin of 29 votes. The LDF had won the ward by a margin of five votes in the previous election.

The BJP finished second, while the RMP-UDF alliance came third. The by-election was held following the death of LDF member E V Krishnaghosh.

LDF Wins Pilicode Panchayat Ward 2 By-Election

Kasaragod: The LDF has won the by-election to Ward 2 of Pilicode panchayat in Kasaragod district. LDF candidate T Omana of the CPI(M) won by a margin of 297 votes. The by-election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of LDF CPI(M) representative T V Mini.

Of the 903 votes polled, the LDF received 591 votes. UDF candidate K Sandhya secured 294 votes, while BJP candidate K Umavathi received 18 votes.

T Omana is the CPI(M) Varakkottu Vayal branch secretary. The voter turnout in the 2025 election was 82 per cent. All 18 wards in the panchayat are held by the LDF.

LDF Wins Both Local Body By-Elections in Kannur

Kannur: The LDF has won both local body wards in Kannur district where by-elections were held. The LDF wrested back the Bavode East ward, Ward 6 of Peralassery panchayat, which had been won by the UDF in the previous election. The LDF also retained the Uruvachal division of Mattannur municipality.

The LDF won Bavode East, a UDF sitting seat, by a margin of 65 votes. K V Ratheesh was the LDF candidate. The by-election was necessitated by the death of panchayat member Sureshbabu Thandaram. The UDF had won the ward by a margin of 13 votes in the previous election.

In Mattannur's Uruvachal division, A K Sureshkumar was the winning LDF candidate. The by-election was held following the death of LDF councillor K K Abhimanyu.