The initial rounds of counting of votes in Thiruvananthapuram gave tense moments to Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor who managed to retain the segment with a lead of 15,470 against the 99,998 votes he secured in 2009.
Right from the start, BJP candidate O. Rajagopal had been maintaining a consistent lead leaving Mr. Tharoor and LDF candidate Bennet Abraham in the second and third positions respectively. Mr. Rajagopal’s margin soared to 14,000 at one point, generating the impression that the party will open its account in the State.
The margin then slipped to eight votes and again rose to a three-digit lead.
Mr.Rajagopal could sustain his lead till 80 per cent votes were counted and in the last lap, when Mr. Tharoor’s lead rose to 7,000, the Congress camp came to life again.
The shifting fortunes of UDF candidate Mullappally Ramachandran in Vadakara and LDF candidate P.K. Sreemathy in Kannur gave hope to the BJP in the capital. The party felt that Mr. Rajagopal would make it in the final round at least with a slender margin.
At the fag end, the votes in 35 booths proved quite crucial for the two major players. The post-poll predictions of BJP leaders came almost true in the case of Mr. Rajagopal. He fared well in Thiruvananthapuram Central, Vattiyurkavu, Nemom, parts of Neyyattinkara, and Kazhakuttam constituencies.
LDF’s plightThe BJP votes went up to 2,82,336 from the 84,094 in 2009.
More disappointing was the setback to the LDF. Mr. Bennet had to be satisfied with 2,48,941 votes and could never improve his position throughout the day.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Ajit Joy made a notable debut with 14,153 votes. Independents and namesakes too managed to bag a fair share of votes. NOTA also had a share of 3,346 votes.
