CPI(M)-LDF heading for massive win in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front is heading for a massive win in the polls with the front securing 85 of the 129 seats declared even as BJP opened its maiden account in the 140-member state assembly.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the results were "unexpected" and a "setback" for Congress-led UDF.

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister O Rajagopal won from Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram by a margin of 8671 votes, defeating sitting CPI(M)-LDF MLA V Sivankutty.

By this victory, Rajagopal has scripted history as all of BJP's earlier attempts earlier to open its account in the state had failed.

BJP leaders led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a "do-or-die" campaign in the state.

However, BJP state president, Kummanam Rajasekharan, former president V Muraleedharan, cricketer Sreesanth and senior leader K Surendran were all defeated.

UDF has secured only 43 seats and Chandy has already conceded defeat, saying the results were unexpected.

LDF's chief ministerial aspirants Pinarayi Vijayan and 93-year-old V S Achuthanandan sailed comfortably to the finish line from Dharmadam and Malampuzha respectively.

Chandy, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, Food Minister, Anoop Jacob, Social Welfare Minister M K Munner, Former Finance minister, K M Mani, were among the winners in the UDF camp.

The main losers in the UDF camp were Excise Minister K Babu, Labour Minister Shibu Babu John, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan, Minister for Youth Affairs and Welfare of Scheduled Tribes P K Jayalakshmi and Congress heavyweight K Sudhakaran.

Speaker N Shakthan and Deputy Speaker Palode Ravi were also defeated.

In the LDF, Sebastian Paul and Nikesh Kumar were among those who tasted defeat.