UDF retains Kasaragod municipality, IUML wins 23 of 24 seats

The United Democratic Front (UDF) retained control of the Kasaragod municipal council, largely on the strength of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), by winning 24 of the 39 wards in the local body elections.

Of the 24 seats secured by the UDF, 23 were won by the IUML. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) saw its tally drop from 14 seats in the previous council to 12, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) improved its presence from one seat to two, with one of the victories coming from an Independent candidate backed by the Left.

The Kasaragod municipality has remained a UDF stronghold since its formation, losing power only twice to the Left Democratic Front.

Although the BJP remains the second-largest party in the council, its strength declined this time. The NDA, which has been in the opposition for years, had set its sights on capturing power but failed to breach the UDF bastion.

The LDF, despite having a limited base in the municipality, fielded candidates in 25 wards in an attempt to assert its organisational strength. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) also entered the fray by contesting in three wards- 1, 13, and 30, seeking to mark its presence. The UDF fielded candidates in 37 wards, including 24 from the IUML.

The UDF had also retained the municipality in the 2020 local body elections by winning 24 seats in the then 38-member council. Following that election, UDF councillor V.M. Muneer was elected chairman, though three councillors abstained from voting.

The post of municipal chairperson is reserved for women this term as well. Since the municipality’s formation, M. Ramannarai (1963) and S.J. Prasad (1995) have served as chairmen, while K.S. Sulaiman Haji (1970-94), former MP Hamidali Shamnad and T.E. Abdullah held the post in different periods. The chairperson’s post was earlier reserved for women in 2005 and 2015, when Beefathima Ibrahim served as administrator. In the previous council, V.M. Muneer headed the municipality in the first term, followed by Abbas Begum in the final term.