Pala By-Election Results: LDF Candidate Mani C Kappan Wins Seat By Over 2000 Votes

Pala Election Results 2019 LIVE Updates: The counting of votes for the Pala assembly constituency in Kerala taking place on Friday. The bypoll is expected to be a litmus test for the ruling CPIM-led LDF after its rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The by-election was necessitated by the death of former finance minister and Kerala Congress (M) supremo K M Mani, whohad held the constituency for more than five decades.

A win for LDF, Congress-led UDF or BJP-headed NDA would boost the three major combines prospects in the by-elections to five more assembly constituencies scheduled for October 21. Around 72 per cent of the 1.79 lakh voters have exercisedtheir franchise in the by-election in which 13 candidates werein the fray.

Live Updates:

2:05 PM

Mani C Kappan of LDF defeated UDF's opponent Jose Tom by 2,943 votes. BJP candidate N Hari came in third.

Mani C Kappan (LDF): 54,137 votes

Jose Tom (UDF): 51,197 votes

N. Hari (NDA): 18,044 votes

2:00 PM

Left Democratic Front's Mani C Kappan wins Pala legislative assembly constituency by-elections by over 2000 votes, reports ANI

#BREAKING | Left Democratic Front's Mani C Kappan wins Pala legislative assembly constituency by-election by over 2000 votes, reports ANI#Kerala

Read full story: https://t.co/eogB7sCmjv pic.twitter.com/VXXHgDFTDq

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) September 27, 2019

1:10 PM

NCP leader Mani C Kappan, who was backed by the LDF, has claimed victory in the Pala by-election. Kappan leads by more than 2000 votes with eight booths left to be counted, according to Indian Express. Kappan thanked the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, leaders of the CPM and other allies for campaigning for him. Jose K Mani, of the Kerala Congress (M), has said he would accept the mandate of the people. "We will examine the reasons for the defeat," he added.

12:30 PM

In Pala, LDF candidate Mani C Kappenis maintaining a consistent lead of over 4,000 votes over United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Jose Tom Pullikunnel.

10:50 AM

Left Democratic Front's (LDF) Mani C Kappan leading by over 3000 votes. BJP's Mini Majumder is leading in Badharghat assembly bypoll.

9:30 AM

In first trends, Mani C Kappan is ahead of Jose Tom by 211 votes.

9 AM

The counting of votes has been delayed due to some technical issues. The postal and service votes have been counted. According to reports, LDF’s Mani C Kappan got more of these votes than the UDF candidate.

8.30 AM

The Kerala unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended its Pala Assembly constituency president Binu Pulikandam before the counting of votes, scheduled on September 27, for allegedly backing out from election campaigns.

BJP Kottayam district president N Hari, who contested in the Pala bypolls, suspended Binu Pulikandam for trading party votes in favour of United Democratic Front (UDF)-supported independent candidate Jose Tom Jose Pulikunnel. Pulikandam, a former Congress local leader had recently joined the BJP and was appointed as the Pala constituency president. According to party sources, Binu Pulikandam wanted to contest in the Pala bypolls, but the party fielded district president N Hari instead.