BJP ‘Surprise’ from Kerala

BJP improves position in Kerala
VR Jayaraj | Kochi – Daily Pioneer

The results of the civic polls in Kerala indicated that the State BJP is in for better times after facing charges of vote-trade and rampant faction fights for quite some time. The party not only succeeded in retaining the seats it won in municipalities like Palakkad in the last election but also registered surprise wins in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi corporations and other civic bodies.

In Palakkad, where the BJP lost the chance to rule after the 2005 civic polls due to the untouchability policy adopted by the CPI(M) and the Congress, retained the 15 seats it had bagged last time. The party claimed second position here and in Kasaragod Municipality where it won in 12 divisions.

In at least four municipalities, neither the CPI(M)-led LDF nor the Congress-led UDF can come to power without the support of the BJP. These include Eloor in Ernakulam district and Kunnamkulam in Thrissur district where the BJP has won in three and five divisions respectively.

The Palakkad Municipality is set to see the same uncertainty it had faced after the 2005 civic elections. The UDF, which has won 23 of the total 42 seats here, will have to join hands with its arch rival, the Left, if it wants to rule the municipality without the BJP’s support. In the hung council of Ottapalam Municipality also, the BJP’s position will be crucial.

However, the most surprising performance of the BJP was in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation where it bagged six seats. The party had not won in even a single division in the capital civic body in the 2005 election. In Kochi and Thrissur corporations, the BJP won two seats each.

The other surprising performance of the BJP was seen in Thiruvalla Municipality where it bagged five seats. It had won in only two seats in the 2005 election.. The party won two seats in Nedumangad and one in Attingal municipalities. As results of the elections to Grama, Block and District panchayats trickled in, it was certain that the party would register noteworthy wins in them also.

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