{
  "id": 10159680,
  "title": "Four local body wards all set for by-election in Ernakulam district on September 28",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/four-local-body-wards-all-set-for-by-election-in-ernakulam-district",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T06:41:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/four-local-body-wards-all-set-for-by-election-in-ernakulam-district-on-september-28/article71515358.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Four local body wards in Ernakulam district, including a Corporation ward, will hold by-elections on September 28, 2026. The wards affected are Ayyappankavu division of Kochi Corporation, Kolencherry East ward of Poothrukka gram panchayat, Puliyanam South ward of Parakkadavu panchayat, and Madaplathuruth ward of Vadakkekara panchayat. A total of 10,003 voters are expected to participate in these interim polls. The by-election in Vadakkekara panchayat is significant as it falls within the North Paravur Assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate is A.K. Ajithkumar, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate is P.K. Usman. K.V. Bijoy will represent the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In Poothrikka panchayat, the candidates are Saramma Paily Pillai for the UDF, Neethu Joyd for the LDF, and Deenamma Jacob for Twenty20. Kolencherry East ward by-election is necessitated due to Pooja Jomon's resignation, who was also the Panchayat president, in protest against joining the NDA. Puliyanam East Ward by-election was triggered by Raji Rajeev's resignation from LDF after getting a job overseas. Similarly, the UDF candidate Sebi Puthenveettil's resignation after getting a job abroad led to the Madaplathuruth ward by-election. The by-election results are expected to be declared on September 29, and they are unlikely to alter the power dynamics in local bodies, as the UDF controls Kochi Corporation, Poothrikka, and Parakkadavu panchayats, while the LDF governs Vadakkekara.",
  "summary": "A total of 10,003 voters are expected to cast their votes in the interim polls necessitated for various reasons",
  "key_points": [
    "Four Ernakulam district wards set for by-elections on September 28, 2026",
    "UDF candidate A.K. Ajithkumar, LDF candidate P.K. Usman in Vadakkekara panchayat"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}