Early counting trends in Kerala Assembly elections indicate that what the Kerala had been through was cliff-hanger of a contest with ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) putting up a strong fight across the State. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is also very much in the contest in at least half-a-dozen seats.
One hour into counting, UDF and UDF were ahead in around 55 seats, with NDA gaining the first place in at least two constituencies. These are early trends and could get reversed later. However, the trends were strong in all the key constituencies. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan have secured comfortable lead from the very beginning.
The contest appeared to be between the UDF and NDA in three constituencies in Kasaragod. The LDF too was also locked in a close battle with NDA in two constitutuencies.
Here is the status at 8:30 am
PT Thomas(UDF) is leading by 675 votes Thrikkakara.
Parakkal Abdulla (UDF) is leading in Kuttiyadi.
Karat Razak, IUML rebel, leads in Koduvally.
Cong candidate Padmaja Venugopal is trailing in Thrissur.
LDF candidates establish lead over more than 1000 votes at Varkala, Attingal, and Chirayinkeezhu constituencies.
A Pradeep Kumar, LDF, leads in Kozhikode north
Mani leads at Pala
Sitting MLA K Dasan leads in Koyilandy.
Chittayam gopakumar of CPI leads by 1875 votes in Adoor.
Raju Abraham leads by175 votes in Ranni
Mathew T Thomas of LDF leads by 883 votes in Thiruvalla.
Suresh Kurup (CPI-M) leading at Ettumanur.
