UDF sweeps Malappuram, delivers blow to LDF

The United Democratic Front (UDF) delivered its strongest-ever performance in civic body elections in Malappuram district, decisively defeating the Left Democratic Front (LDF) across municipalities, grama panchayats, block panchayats and the district panchayat.

For the first time, the Malappuram District Panchayat faces no opposition, with the 33-member council containing not a single LDF representative. The UDF captured 11 of the 12 municipalities, 87 of the 94 grama panchayats, 14 of the 15 block panchayats, and swept all 33 district panchayat divisions in Malappuram.

The LDF managed to hold only the Ponnani municipality and the grama panchayats of Niramaruthur, Elamkulam, Vazhayur, and Veliyamkode. Election analysts call it the LDF’s most ‘humiliating’ setback in the district’s recent memory. When the UDF wrested Perinthalmanna and Nilambur municipalities from the LDF, it retained Kondotty, Malappuram, Manjeri, Kottakkal, Parappanangadi, Tanur, Tirur, Tirurangadi and Valanchery municipalities.

Perinthalmanna slipped out of the LDF hand after three decades in a close fight. In the 37-member municipal council, UDF won 15 seats and LDF 14, when Independents won 8 seats. Most of the Independents were supported by the UDF.

In panchayats, it was a complete sweep for the UDF, with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) putting up its best show in recent memory. In Ponmundam panchayat, however, the IUML succumbed to pressure from a joint coalition of the Congress, CPI(M) and other parties. With no UDF or LDF presence, the contest was essentially IUML versus the rest. The anti-League Janakeeya Munnani wrested control of Ponmundam panchayat from the IUML.

When the LDF secured a majority in Elamkulam, Niramarathur, Veliyamkode and Vazhayur panchayats, neither the LDF nor the UDF could secure a majority in Pulamanthole and Edappal panchayats. Like the Ponnani municipality, Ponnani is the only block panchayat to favour the LDF. In the 14-ward Ponnani block, the LDF won seven seats, the UDF six, and one Independent is expected to support the LDF.

In many panchayats across the district, the LDF pursued a strategy of fielding Independent candidates with strong local community ties to secure civic body wards. In several areas, LDF workers campaigned by requesting voters to give ‘just one vote’ to their candidate, while leaving the other two votes (for block and district panchayat seats) up to the voter’s discretion.

The strategy backfired as the UDF focused on the alleged shortcomings of the LDF government in the State. Anti-incumbency sentiment played a key role in voters turning away from the LDF in Malappuram.