LDF Wrests Kottayam District Panchayat Thrikkodithanam Division From UDF

Kottayam: The 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.

Manju Sujith secured 16,280 votes, while Vijay Jose Maret received 14,140 votes. BJP candidate A Manoj secured 3,993 votes.

The LDF victory came in the sitting division of UDF MLA Vinu Job. Manju Sujith was a former district panchayat standing committee chairperson.

The LDF had also won the ward represented by Chittur MLA Suresh Achuthan. In the Chittur-Thathamangalam municipality ward previously held by Congress leader Suresh Achuthan, LDF candidate V Thulasidharan won through a draw of lots after both the LDF and UDF candidates secured 433 votes each.

The UDF suffered defeat in the ward where Suresh Achuthan had won by a margin of 185 votes and later became municipality chairperson.

Counting of votes for the by-elections held in 38 local body wards across Keralam is currently underway. The results will be available on the TREND section of the State Election Commission's website, www.sec.kerala.gov.in.

A total of 126 candidates are contesting in 38 local body wards across 12 districts, excluding Kollam and Alappuzha.