The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has swept Kollam by winning ten out of eleven constituencies in the district, many of them with huge margins.
The remaining one constituency (Kunnathur) was won by an LDF-supported Independent.
The LDF sweep is attributed to an anti-incumbency undercurrent, which remained largely undetected, and the resentment of the cashew workers towards the United Democratic Front (UDF) government for ignoring the crisis in the sector.
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The biggest majority of 42,632 votes in the district was registered by LDF candidate Aisha Potty of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) who sought a third consecutive term from Kottarakara.
Her nearest UDF rival was Savin Sathyan of the Congress. In the 2011 elections, Ms. Potty had won Kottarakara by a margin of 20,592 votes.
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The star war at Pathanapuram was won by LDF candidate K.B. Ganesh Kumar of the Kerala Congress (B) by a margin of 24,562 votes over his nearest UDF rival Jagadeesh of the Congress. Actor Bheeman Reghu, the BJP candidate, polled 11,700 votes. Mr. Ganesh Kumar is winning Pathanapuram for the fourth consecutive term.
In the keenly watched contest at Kollam, LDF candidate actor M. Mukesh of the CPI(M) defeated his nearest UDF rival Sooraj Ravi of the Congress by a margin of 17,611 votes.
The LDF candidate from Chathannur, G.S. Jayalal of the CPI, trounced his nearest BJP rival B.B. Gopakumar by a margin of 34,407 votes. KPCC general secretary Sooranad Rajashekaran, who was the UDF candidate, was pushed to the third position. Mr. Jayalal is winning Chathannur for the second consecutive term.
Close race
In a close race at Karunagapally, LDF candidate R. Ramachandran of the CPI defeated his nearest UDF rival C.R. Mahesh of the Congress by a slender margin of 1,759 votes. During counting, both were overtaking each other at intervals.
In the tight fight at Chavara, LDF candidate N. Vijayan Pillai of the CMP defeated his nearest UDF rival Shibu Baby John of the RSP by a margin of 6,189 votes.
At Kunnathur, the LDF-supported Independent candidate Kovur Kunjumon won by a handsome majority of 20,529 votes over his nearest UDF rival Ulhas Kovur of the Congress. This is the fourth consecutive victory for Mr. Kunjumon from Kunnathur. At Eravipuram, LDF candidate M. Noushad defeated UDF candidate A.A. Azeez of the RSP by a margin of 28,803 votes. Mr. Azeez had won from the constituency during the previous three consecutive terms as LDF candidate.
At Chadayamangalam, LDF candidate Mullakara Ratnakaran of the CPI defeated his nearest UDF rival M.M. Hassan of the Congress by a margin of 21,928 votes. Mr. Ratnakaran is winning Chadayamangalam for the third consecutive term. At Kundara, LDF candidate J. Mercykutty trounced her UDF rival Rajmohan Unnithan of the Congress by a margin of 30,460 votes.