Ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala stayed on course winning two of the three seats for which elections were held on Monday.
Former Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State secretary P.V. Abdul Wahab and CPI(M) nominee K.K. Ragesh were elected to the Upper House when the counting of votes was completed around 5.20 p.m.
There was some speculation about at least one vote from the UDF camp going in the way of the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) with dissident Kerala Congress (M) leader P.C. George keeping his cards close to his chest. However, he voted with the UDF, enabling Mr. Ravi to secure 37 votes and Mr. Wahab to account for the remaining 36 votes of the ruling alliance.
Mr. Ragesh, former national general secretary of the Students Federation of India (SFI) secured 36 votes. Mr. K.Rajan of the CPI, whom the LDF had fielded in the hope of securing some splinter votes from the UDF, could get only 29 votes.
