The ruling CPI(M)-led LDF inched towards victory in the Chengannur assembly bypoll as counting progressed on Thursday morning. The ruling front was able to make strong gains in the UDF and BJP bastions. As per latest count, Saji Cherian is leading by more than 12,000 votes to overtake the LDF's 2016 victory margin of 7,983.
"This is beyond my expectations. Did not know that people liked me so much," Saji Cherian said, as he extend his lead in Chengannur. The party workers have broken into celebrations as Saji Cherian surged ahead in Chengannur.
It is learnt that the first trends came from Mannar panchayat which is the largest panchayat in the constituency. The counting of votes for the Chengannur Assembly bypoll began at 8 am. The fate of 17 candidates, including Saji Cherian (LDF), D. Vijayakumar (UDF) and P.S. Sreedharan Pillai (NDA) will be known by noon.
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Security arrangements have been made and the electronic voting machines will be shifted to the booth early in the morning.
Braving heavy rain, people turned up in large numbers to cast their vote on Monday with 76.25 per cent polling recorded in Chengannur—highest in three decades.
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA K.K. Ramachandran Nair (CPI-M) in January 2018.
The outcome of the Chengannur bypoll is widely seen as a referendum of the performance of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in the state.
The nearly two-month-long electioneering witnessed fierce campaign by the fronts, who used all means to launch attacks against each other.