Counting for Piravom bypoll commences

Counting for the crucial Piravom Bypoll, which saw a stiff fight between the Congress led United Democratic Front (UDF) and CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF), began at 8am today.

The counting is being held at the Nirmala Juniors school, Muvattupuzha. The results are expected after 10 rounds of counting.

Over 400 police personnel have been deployed for security.

A record polling of 86.3% was registered in the constiutency this time.

Anoop Jacob is the UDF candidate and his LDF rival MJ Jacob.

The bypoll was necessecitated following the death of former minister, TM Jacob, father of Anoop Jacob.

With the death of TM Jacob, the UDF strength in the 140 member Assembly had gone down to 71, while in the LDF camp, the recent resignation of Neyyatinkara MLA, Selvraj has reduced its strength to 67.

TM Jacob had won by a slender margin of 157 votes in 2011 assembly polls.