The Indian National Congress (INC) polled 6.69 lakh votes more than the CPI(M), with a significant vote share difference of 14.02% separating the two parties in the local body elections held in Ernakulam district.
Out of the total 47.77 lakh votes polled across grama panchayats, block panchayats, the district panchayat, municipalities, and Kochi Corporation, the INC secured 17.83 lakh votes (37.34%), compared to 11.14 lakh votes (23.32%) for the CPI(M). The CPI, the second major constituent of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), polled only 2.50 lakh votes (5.25%), while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key constituent of the United Democratic Front (UDF), secured 1.28 lakh votes (2.69%).
Interestingly, both these parties together polled fewer votes than independents, who managed 4.25 lakh votes (8.91%). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 5.22 lakh votes (10.94%), while Twenty20, the Kitex Group-backed political outfit, polled 1.91 lakh votes (4.02%). The Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a major ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), managed just 17,108 votes (0.36%), while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) polled even less, at 2,324 votes (0.05%).
The Revolutionary Socialist Party bagged 27,408 votes (0.57%), Janata Dal (Secular) received 694 votes (0.15%), Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) secured 11,135 votes (0.23%), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) polled 248 votes (0.01%), Janadhipathya Kerala Congress 2,598 votes (0.05%), Rashtriya Janata Dal 406 votes (0.01%), Communist Marxist Party 898 votes (0.02%), and Congress (Secular) 16,755 votes (0.35%).
Among the Kerala Congress factions, the Kerala Congress polled 76,919 votes (1.61%), the Kerala Congress (B) 16,862 votes (0.35%), the Kerala Congress (Jacob) 52,252 votes (1.09%), and the Kerala Congress (M) 63,208 votes (1.32%). The Socialist Democratic Party of India polled 37,564 votes (0.79%), Welfare Party of India 6,179 votes (0.13%), Marxist Leninist Party (Red Flag) 674 votes (0.01%), CPI(ML) Red Star 523 votes (0.01%), and Bahujan Samaj Party 260 votes (0.01%).
At least five parties – Indian Christian Front, Indian National League, Lok Janashakthi Party, National People’s Party, and Socialist Party – accounted for votes in just two digits, together making up a vote share of 0.00% each.