The UDF seized power in the Koothattukulam Municipality following an election held on Friday. The election was held after a no-confidence motion earlier this month ousted the LDF chairperson. 

CPM rebel Kala Raju was elected chairperson, defeating LDF candidate Vijaya Sivan by one vote. Kala had received 13 votes against 12 votes for the LDF candidate. Nobody abstained from voting.

Earlier in August, LDF lost control of the Municipality after a no-confidence motion brought by the UDF against Chairperson Vijaya Sivan (CPM) was passed with 13 votes, including the support of CPM rebel councillor Kala Raju.

Speaking after today's election, Kala accused the LDF of attempting horse-trading. "The LDF approached me for horse-trading. I will act according to my conscience," she told the media. The CPM has staged a protest following the election.

The Congress, which had nine councillors, secured the support of two independent councillors, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) member, along with Kala Raju, to seize power in the municipality.

The Congress has accused the CPM of attempting to horse-trade its members with promises of positions. "The CPM approached some of our councillors before the voting and offered them seats and posts after the next panchayat elections," a Congress councillor told Onmanorama. 

However, the CPM has dismissed the allegations as baseless. A CPM councillor told Onmanorama that the party had no reason to engage in horse-trading and accused Kala Raju of betraying the CPM from within. "She had won as a party candidate and then later betrayed the organisation that supported her," the councillor said.