Shoranur, Wednesday, 17 December 2008: Janakiya Vikasana Samiti led by MR Murali has won the by-elections to the Shornur municipality causing a huge embarrassment to the ruling CPM.

Among the nine wards in which elections were held Janakiya Vikasana Samiti managed to secure eight wards.

MR Murali was elected from the 26th ward with a majority of 361 votes defeating CPM’s M Unnikrishnan.

Shornur was considered to be a strong forte of CPM, which has been maintaining its hold for over eight years.

CPI (M) rebels were pitted against party candidates in eight of the nine wards.

Heavy turnout of 69.88 per cent was reported yesterday.

The by-elections were necessitated by the resignation of nine CPI (M) councillors following factional feud in the party.

The CPI (M) had expelled local leader and vice-chairman of the Shoranur Municipality M.R. Murali for allegedly not complying with a party directive to quit the post early this year.

Offering support to Mr. Murali, eight more councillors resigned from the council. Mr. Murali, who was identified with a group loyal to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, floated a new party, Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi.

While the CP (M) fielded its candidates in all the nine wards, the samithi had its candidates in eight wards and supported an independent candidate in Ward.

Mr. Murali contested from Ward 26 - Manjakad. The BJP also fielded candidates in the nine wards. Though, the Congress did not field any candidate, it extended unconditional support to the Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi.