In a stunning political upset, the United Democratic Front (UDF) clinched the presidential post in Munderi panchayat in Kannur, the home panchayat of Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary K K Ragesh. The victory was sealed on Saturday after a vote cast by a ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) council member was declared invalid, breaking a tense deadlock.
How a Single Invalid Vote Altered Munderi's Political Equation
The Munderi panchayat has a total of 22 members. Following the recent delimitation exercise, the number of wards increased from 20 to 22. In the current body, both the LDF and the UDF had an equal strength of 11 members each, setting the stage for a nail-biting election.
During the election for the panchayat president, CPM's Sunil Kumar T K, who represents the Mowanchery ward, cast a vote that was later declared invalid. This crucial error proved decisive. UDF's presidential candidate, Raseena C K of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), secured 12 votes, while the LDF's candidate, Shammi K, managed to get only 10 votes.
This result marks a significant shift from the 2020 local body elections, where the LDF enjoyed a comfortable majority by winning 13 out of the then 20 seats.
Vice-President Post Decided by Draw of Lots
The drama did not end with the presidential election. The contest for the vice-president's post also resulted in a tie, with both UDF and LDF candidates receiving 11 votes each. As per the election rules, the winner was determined by a draw of lots. The lottery favoured the UDF, and Congress's V K Sanesh was declared the vice-president of Munderi panchayat.
Parallel Drama in Kasaragod's Uduma Panchayat
In a strikingly similar incident in the neighbouring Kasaragod district, the LDF managed to win the president's post in Uduma panchayat due to an invalid vote—but this time from the UDF's side.
In the 23-member Uduma panchayat, the UDF had initially secured a majority with 12 seats. However, during the presidential election, UDF's candidate N Chandran of the Congress party cast an invalid vote. This led to a tie, forcing another draw of lots. The luck of the draw favoured the LDF, and CPM's P V Rajan was declared the president.
Postponement in Pullur-Periya Due to Boycott
Meanwhile, in the Pullur-Periya panchayat, also in Kasaragod district, elections for both president and vice-president have been postponed to Monday. This delay was caused by a mass boycott by UDF and BJP members.
The 19-member civic body has a fractured mandate: both UDF and LDF have nine members each, while the BJP holds one seat. The UDF members decided to stay away from the election process due to internal dissent within the party over the presidential candidature. Although all nine LDF members were present, the lone BJP member did not arrive for the election. Citing a lack of quorum, the returning officer postponed the polls.
These series of events highlight the intensely competitive and unpredictable nature of grassroots politics in Kerala, where a single vote—or the lack of a valid one—can overturn expected outcomes and alter the political control of local bodies.
