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Kerala: Mercykuttiyamma, the lone minister trailing in Pinarayi Vijayan govt

LDF is en route to rewrite history in Kerala; here’s how the ministers are faring

J. Mercykuttiyamma | Manorama online

Kerala is well on course to rewrite history. The coastal state, which has never re-elected an incumbent government, has bucked the trend to back Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF for the second time in a row, as per midday trends. 

The ruling LDF maintained its lead in 94 of the 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala while the opposition Congress-headed UDF was ahead in only 43 segments. 

As 'captain' Pinarayi Vijayan continues his victory march by over 7,000 votes in his home turf of Dharmadam against his nearest rival C. Raghunathan of the Congress, here is how his ministers have fared so far as counting progresses: 

Revenue minister: E. Chandrashekaran 

The CPI MLA is leading by 5,100 votes against Congress's P. V. Suresh in Kanhangad.

Minister of Labour and Excise: T.P. Ramakrishnan

In Perambra, incumbent CPI(M) MLA TP Ramakrishnan has registered a lead of 3,072 votes against UDF's C.H. Ibrahimkutty. 

Transport Minister: A.K. Saseendran

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran, who is running for the third time in a row, is leading by more than 7,992 votes in Kozhikode' Elathur.

Minister for Local Self Government: A. C. Moideen 

In Kunnamkulam, Moideen has extended his lead to over 8,300 votes over UDF's K. Jayasankar. 

Health minister K. K. Shailaja

It is a no brainer. Kerala's world famous minister K.K. Shailaja is leading by a whopping 23,000 votes in Kannur's Mattannur. 

Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering, Cashew Industry: Mercykuttiyamma

Incumbent Minister J. Mercykutty Amma of the CPI(M), for a change, is trailing Congress's P. C. Vishnunath by 1,200 votes. 

Minister of Archaeology and Port Kadannappally Ramachandran 

The veteran leader is leading by over 3,051 votes in Kannur against UDF's Satheeshan Pacheni.

Minister of Co-operation, Tourism and Devasom, Kadakampally Surendran

The incumbent MLA from Kazhakkoottam, which is witnessing a three-cornered battle, with UDF's S.S. Lal and NDA's Sobha Surendran is leading by 6,200 votes. 

Ex-minister K.T. Jaleel 

Jaleel, who resigned soon after Kerala went to polls on April 6 owing to allegations of nepotism and favouritism, is trailing behind UDF's Feroz Kunnumparambil by over 1,345 votes from Thavanur in Malappuram.