A dramatic personal moment captured the mood of the Left Democratic Front’s setback in Pathanamthitta on Saturday, when LDF worker Babu Varghese shaved off his trademark moustache after the party failed to retain the Pathanamthitta Municipality.

Varghese had publicly vowed ahead of the Kerala local body elections that he would shave his moustache if the LDF lost the municipality.

The symbolic act came as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) delivered a decisive blow to the Left in the district, breaking a long-standing political pattern and wresting control of key local bodies from the LDF.

In Pathanamthitta district, the UDF secured a comfortable majority in the 16-member district panchayat, winning 12 seats, while the LDF’s tally plunged to five from 12 in the previous elect

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