Palakkad: An unusual and much-discussed outcome emerged from the local body election results in Hidayat Nagar, Division 12 of Pattambi Municipality, where the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate failed to secure even a single vote, triggering political debate and sharp reactions from rival fronts.
According to polling figures, not one vote was recorded in favour of the CPM-backed LDF candidate in the ward. What added to the intrigue was the revelation that the candidate himself had exercised his franchise in favour of another contestant, setting what many observers described as an extraordinary and ironic precedent in local electoral politics.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) alleged that the CPM nominee deliberately refrained from voting for himself in order to indirectly support the Welfare Party candidate and prevent a UDF victory. The CPM-backed independent, Abdul Karim, who contested on the ring symbol, thus entered the election record books by drawing zero votes, a rare occurrence that quickly became a talking point across Palakkad’s political circles.
Despite the triangular contest, the UDF emerged victorious in the ward. Its candidate, T.P. Usman, secured a clear win with 292 votes. Welfare Party candidate K.P. Sajid finished second with 208 votes, while the LDF-backed contender failed to open his account.
The result also reflected shifting political alignments in Pattambi. In the previous local body elections, the Welfare Party had contested in alliance with the V for Pattambi group and managed to win a ward. However, with V for Pattambi effectively dissolving after its key leader T.P. Shaji joined the Congress, the Welfare Party entered the fray independently this time, choosing to defend the ward it had earlier held.
The zero-vote outcome for the LDF candidate has since drawn widespread attention, with political observers describing it as symbolic of deeper tactical manoeuvres and internal contradictions within local alliances. As debates continue, the episode stands out as one of the most curious footnotes of the Pattambi municipal election.