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LDF retains Thiruvambadi with a slender margin

Staff Reporter

CPI(M) nominee defeats IUML candidate by 246 votes

George M.Thomas.

KOZHIKODE: Left Democratic Front candidate George M. Thomas Mekkatt Kunnel retained the Thiruvambadi Assembly constituency in a keenly contested bypoll, the result of which was declared on Thursday.

Mr. George defeated the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidate V. M. Ummer Master by a slender margin of 246. Out of the total 1,39,997 votes polled in the byelection held on Monday, Mr. Thomas obtained 64,112 votes while Mr. Ummer received 63,866. The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of Mathai Chacko in October.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Gireesh Thevally secured 4,758 votes. The independents candidates in the fray, Ummer Master received 1,522, V.P. Ummer 422 and George Thomas Machakkuzhyil 917 votes. The two Ummers had jointly polled 1,942 votes literally spoiling the chances of the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate to wrest its traditional seat.

Counting of votes started at the Government Polytechnic at West Hill here at 8 a.m. The trends right from the first round of counting revealed that the electoral battle was going to be an exciting photo finish. Mr. Ummer was leading after the first round. But as counting progressed at the grama panchayat-level, Mr. Thomas overtook him.

His leads began to swell as counting continued at some of the strongholds of the CPI (M)-ruled grama panchayats. But Mr. Ummer caught up with him when the counting of votes started in other grama panchayats, including Thamarassery where the IUML candidate is its vice-president.

Votes polled at the Omassery grama panchayat was the decisive factor resulting in Mr. Thomas emerging victorious. Of the total nine grama panchayats, the LDF candidate secured a lead of 270 votes against the UDF candidate at Kodiyathur, 1,271 at Karassery, three at Kooderanji, 1,105 at Thiruvambadi, Kattippara, 733 and Omassery, 630. Mr. Ummer secured 1,105 more votes than Mr. Thomas at Kodencherry, 733 at Puthuppadi and 1, 530 at Thamarassery grama panchayats.

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