Voters queue at a school in Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (January 12, 2026) to cast their ballots.
| Photo Credit: JAYAMOHAN A
Buoyed by the winning performance in the just-concluded local body polls in Kerala, the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) wrested the Vizhinjam ward in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where the election was postponed due to the death of a candidate, from the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The UDF candidate, K.H. Sudheer Khan, won the seat by a margin of 83 votes.
The UDF candidate secured a total of 2,902 votes, while LDF candidate N.A. Noushad of CPI(M) polled 2,819 votes. BJP candidate Sarvashakthipuram Binu came third with 2,437 votes.
LDF rebel and former ward councillor N.A. Rasheed polled 118 votes. The votes secured by Mr. Rasheed played a crucial role in the UDF’s victory as the winning margin was less than the votes of the rebel candidate. The former CPI(M) councillor in Vizhinjam ward contested as an Independent this time. Former Youth Congress leader Hisan Hussain contested as a Congress rebel.
The UDF victory has also come as a blow for the BJP, which nurtured hopes of securing a majority in the Corporation on its own by winning the Vizhinjam ward. Had the NDA had won in Vizhinjam, it would have reached the ‘magic number’ of 51 seats required to secure a majority on its own. The NDA, which currently has 50 seats, had secured a majority in the Corporation with the support of an Independent.
The UDF has regained control of the Vizhinjam ward after a decade. With this, the UDF’s strength in the Corporation has risen to 20 seats.
UDF workers celebrated the victory by raising slogans and distributing sweets in front of the counting centre.
Nine candidates, including the rebels, were in the fray in the election held on Monday.
Published – January 13, 2026 12:36 pm IST
