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The Left is set to return to power in Kerala, two exit polls predicted on 16 May evening. The India Today-Axis exit poll gave 88 to 101 seats to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the 140-member assembly and 38-48 to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The BJP could get zero to three seats while one to four seats may go to others, it said. [caption id=“attachment_2763878” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file photo of Oommen Chandy. PTI[/caption] The India TV-C Voter exit poll predicted 74-82 seats to the LDF, which is led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM). Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, speaking a day before the counting day, reiterated that exit polls predicting his ouster would be proved wrong and he would retain power. On Wednesday, he completed 1,827 days in office — a record for a five-year term in the state. His predecessor and Marxist leader VS Achuthanandan was chief minister for 1,822 days. Chandy told IANS that he was confident that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) would get a renewed mandate. “The total number of women voters is in excess of one million more than male voters. This is going to be hugely positive for us,” he said. “We are expecting a close fight in around a dozen constituencies where the margin (of victory or defeat) would be less than 1,000 votes, and here the postal votes will be decisive. “We are quite confident that we will retain power,” he said. Chandy, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, 83-year-old Kerala Congress (M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani are among the 1,203 candidates in the electoral arena. Senior Congress legislator Benny Behanan, who did not get a party ticket this time, told media persons that the results that have come out in the exit polls are not true. “I represent a seat in Ernakulam and I know this district very well and this survey says the UDF will win just three seats… this is just not right. Something has gone wrong with those who did this,” he said. Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader O Rajagopal, who is a contestant from the Thiruvananthapuram district, said even though the exit polls predicts three seats for his party, they are expecting more. “So let’s wait for the result to come out on 19 May,” he said. CPM Lok Sabha member M P Rajesh, however, said he did not find the results as a surprise as this was what they expected. The voter turnout in Kerala for the assembly elections at 77.35 percent was higher when compared to 75.12 percent in the previous elections, an official said on 17 May. A total of 1,203 contestants, including 109 women, are vying for 140 seats of Kerala’s 14th assembly. Election Commission officials said counting of votes, which will commence at 8 am, will be over by 3 pm. By 12 noon, a clear picture could emerge on the winners. According to Election Commission guidelines, half-an-hour after the postal ballots are counted, the process of counting votes from the EVMs begins. With inputs from agencies
As it happened: Left stages a comeback, BJP opens account in Kerala
The Left is set to return to power in Kerala, two exit polls predicted on 16 May evening.
 "As it happened: Left stages a comeback, BJP opens account in Kerala")
Vote share up by 20%: BJP Kerala president
The state president of Kerala K Rajasekharan said that the party’s vote share have increased from 6% to 20%.
In Kerala we have increased our vote share from 6 to 18-20%: K Rajasekharan, BJP Kerala state Pres. #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/9VeNl2t0gP
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Vijayan wins from Dharamadom
CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan elected from Dharamadom in Kannur district, defeating nearest rival Mambaram Divakaran of Congress by 36,905 votes.
PTI
Chandy wins from Puthuppally
Outgoing Chief Minister Oommen Chandy declared elected from Puthuppally in Kottayam district defeating nearest rival Jake C Thomas of CPM by 27,092 votes.
PTI
KM Mani wins from Pala
KM Mani (KCM-UDF) wins from Pala against Mani C Kappan (NCP-LDF) by a margin of 4,703 votes.
PTI
Excise minister loses in Tripunithura
Excise Minister K Babu defeated by a margin of 4,467 votes by M Swaraj of CPM in Tripunithura constituency. It was a win for Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala (Congress) in Haripad. He defeated P Prasad of CPI by a margin of 18,621 votes.
PTI
Karat promises development in Kerala
CPM leader Prakash Karat said that it was a huge win for LDF in Kerala and the new government will focus on development.
This is a huge win for LDF in Kerala, will bring development for Kerala & take ppl towards a new direction: Prakash Karat, CPIM
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Defeat unexpected: Chandy
As the Congress-led UDF suffered a rout in the Kerala Assembly elections, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Thursday that his party never expected such a defeat. “In democracy, the choice of the people is final. We accept this defeat which we never ever expected,” a stunned Chandy told the media at his home at Puthuppally near here.
“We felt we would return (to power) but this has not happened. We will now sit down to introspect,” he said.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) suffered one of its worst defeats in Kerala.
The Congress, which had 39 legislators in the outgoing assembly, was set to win 23 of the 140 seats. The UDF itself will have to be content with 46 seats.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPM was set to win 92 seats. The BJP won one seat. PC George, who contested as an independent, was also declared elected.
“As the chairman of the UDF, I have a responsibility for this debacle,” said Chandy, who has been elected 11 times from Puthupally.
It's an unexpected verdict but we accept it.We expected a better result for UDF: Oommen Chandy #Election2016 #Kerala pic.twitter.com/H3W2cjNn8s
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
BJP wins first seat in Kerala
Former Union minister O Rajagopal was on Thursday elected to the Kerala Assembly, giving the BJP its first ever representation in the house.
The Election Commission said the 86-year-old political veteran had won from Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram district by over 8,000 votes. He defeated outgoing CPM legislator V Sivankutty.
Even before his victory was announced, hundreds of BJP supporters began celebrating outside the counting centre.
The BJP had so far never won an assembly or Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.
IANS
UDF accepts verdict: Chandy
Oommen Chandy said that the UDF accepts the people’s verdict and will evaluate the results.
As the chairman of UDF front, I take the responsibility of this defeat: Oommen Chandy #KeralaElectionResults pic.twitter.com/8fpYtaaZ3Y
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Results a setback: Chandy
Oommen Chandy said the results of the Kerala Assembly election was a setback and was unexpected.
PTI
Achuthanandan wins from Malampuzha
CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan wins from Malampuzha constituency by a margin of 23,142 votes, defeating C Krishna Kumar of BJP.
PTI
Kerala CM will be decided by LDF: Vijayan
The CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that Kerala’s next chief minister will be picked by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Asked if he would be the state’s new chief minister, Vijayan told a television news channel in Kannur: “That will be decided by the party (CPM) and the LDF (Left Democratic Front).”
IANS
Will be a constructive Opposition: Tharoor
Congress leader and MP for Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment over the Congress-led UDF’s defeat in Kerala.
It is ofcourse disappointing, we will be a constructive opposition: Shashi Tharoor #Kerala #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/trBZMadGEt
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Key wins
V Satyan of CPM wins by a margin of 40,383 votes against nearest rival K Chandra Babu (RSP-UDF) in Attingal constituency.
Sitting MLA V Sasi (CPI-LDF) wins by a margin of 14,322 votes against his rival K S Ajit kumar of Congress in Chirayinkeezhu consitutuency in Thiruvananthapuram district.
In Neyyatinkara, CPM’s S K Ansalan wins the seat from Congress sitting MLA R Selvaraj by 9,543 votes.
Actor K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress(B)-LDF) defeats actor P V Jagadeesh Kumar of Congress by a margin of 24,562 votes in Pathanapuram constituency in Kollam district.
In Payyannur, C Krishnan of CPM wins by 40,263 votes against his rival Sajith Mavvan of Congress by 40,623 votes.
Mattannur: E P Jayarajan of CPM wins by a margin of 43,381 votes against A P Prashanth of (JDU-UDF).
M Naushad (CPM) wins by margin of 28,803 votes from Eravipuram in Kollam district against sitting RSP-UDF MLA A A Azeez.
In Kayamkulam, U Pratibha Hari of CPM wins by a margin of 11,857 votes against M Liju of Congress.
PTI
Agriculture minister defeated
Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan (JDU-UDF) defeated by Shailaja Teacher (CPM-LDF) by a margin of 12,291 votes in Kuthuparamba constituency.
PTI
Left set to dethrone Congress
The Left Democratic Party (LDF) has lived up to the expectation of replacing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) every alternate year in Kerala.
IANS
LDF wins 10 seats so far
Results in 11 constituencies have been declared so far. The LDF partners — the CPM has won seven seats, the CPI 2 and KC(B) 1. The Congress-led UDF has managed to win only one seat.
PTI
BJP set to open account
The UDF suffered a huge setback in districts like Kollam and Thrissur besides Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Former central minister and BJP veteran O Rajagopal maintained his lead in Nemom constituency in the capital district. If he wins, he will be the first BJP member to enter the Kerala assembly.
An independent candidate led in one seat.
At least five state ministers trailed. Besides Achuthanandan, his party colleague Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also a chief ministerial hopeful, was also leading.
LDF wave in Kerala: Achuthanandan
The Left appeared set to stage a comeback in Kerala on Thursday, as it took winning leads in 87 of the 140 constituencies. The BJP was poised to enter the assembly for the first time.
The ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (LDF) was ahead in only 51 constituencies.
Based at Palakkad, CPM veteran and former chief minister VS Achuthanandan called it a wave in favour of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
“This is a vote against the corrupt and those who failed to protect the dignity of women,” said an elated Achuthanandan, eyeing a second term as chief minister.
IANS
PM Modi praises BJP in Kerala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates BJP in Kerala. He tweeted on Thursday that the efforts on the party paid off in the state. The BJP is set to open account in Kerala.
In Kerala, the persistence of the Party has paid off today & we will become an even stronger voice of the people. @BJP4Keralam
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2016
Congress has faced worse times: Chacko
With Congress facing defeat in Assam and Kerala, party leader PC Chacko on Thursday said it has faced “worse circumstances” but always bounced back.
While “accepting” the defeat in Assam, the Congress leader also said that the result in Kerala was not as per expectation.
“In the past, we have faced worse circumstances. But we have the tendency to bounce back every time,” Chacko told IANS.
“Results are not as per our expectations in Kerala. However, the BJP is terming its opening account in the state as historic. That is their mindset; we believe in winning. Prime minister himself campaigned in Kerala and they are leading in just two seats,” Chacko added.
Win for CPM
V Joy of CPM wins by 2,386 votes against sitting MLA Varkala Kahar of Congress in Varkala. Sitting MLA G S Jayalal (CPI-LDF) wins by 34,407 votes against his BJP rival B B Gopakumar at Chattanoor.
PTI
Chandy, Vijayan establish clear leads
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his cabinet colleagues Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, P K Kunhalikutty, Manjalamkuzhi Ali and M K Muneer have established clear leads.
CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan is leading by over 24,000 votes in Dharmadam, while Marxist veteran V S Achutanandan has established a lead of over 10,000 votes over his nearest rival over C Krishnakumar of NDA in Malampuzha.
Former Finance Minister K M Mani and K Babu are leading by a very small margins.
BJP candidate and former Union minister O Rajagopal is leading by over 8,000 votes in Nemom.
BJP state President Kummanam Rajasekharan, cricketer Sreesanth and former BJP State president V Muraleedharan are all trailing.
PTI
Left leads with 88 seats
The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is surging ahead in Kerala, establishing a lead in 88 of the total 140 Assembly constituencies.
The ruling Congress led United Democratic Front (UDF) is ahead in only 49 seats, while BJP is ahead in two Assembly segments as the counting progressed.
LDF on its own is heading in 82 seats, while LDF-supported independents are ahead in six constituencies.
PTI
LDF candidate wins in Kazhakoottam
LDF candidate Kadakampally Surendran wins Kazhakoottam constituency in Thiruvananthapuram district by a margin of 7,347 votes against his nearest rival V Muraleedharan of BJP.
PTI
Writing on the wall not positive: Tharoor
Congress leader and MP for Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor told CNN-News18 that writing on the wall was not very positive for Congress in Kerala, but the party will wait for the results.
. @ShashiTharoor Decision pending !!! @Oommen_Chandy @INCIndia @OfficeOfRG @VMSudheeran @khushsundar pic.twitter.com/Ja2mU4iUVW
— Jayasree Vijayan (@JayasreeVijayan) May 18, 2016
Vijayan leading by over 23,000 votes
CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan is leading by over 23,000 votes against nearest Congress rival Mambaram Divakaran in Dharmadam constituency in Kannur.
Kerala looking at LDF govt
According to the exit polls, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) was set to dethrone the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)
LDF candidates is leading in 85 seats and those of the UDF in 53 seats. The BJP is leading in one seat and a smaller party in another_._
IANS
Will have to concede defeat: Chacko
Congress leader PC Chacko said that the Congress-UDF government may have to concede defeat. He said that the party will fix responsibility.
Looks like will have to concede defeat in Kerala,yes responsibility will be fixed: PC Chacko,Congress #Elections2016 pic.twitter.com/IyHI1cJJZy
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
UDF minister PK Jayalakshmi trails
The lone woman minister in the Oommen Chandy cabinet, PK Jayalakshmi is trailing by over 3,000 votes in Mananthavady constituency in Wayanad district.
State ministers, MK Muneer (Kozhikode south) and VS Sivakumar (Thiruvanthapuram central) are leading by over 4,000 votes.
In Thrissur district, LDF is leading in all the 13 constituencies including in that city, where KPCC General secretary Padmaja Venugopal daughter of late Congress leader K Karunakaran, is trailing.
Actors Ganesh Kumar and Mukesh both fielded by LDF, are ahead of their rivals in their respective constituencies.
PTI
Chandy surges ahead in Puthuppally
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is leading by 6,884 votes in Puthuppally over his nearest CPM rival Jake C thomas after first round of counting.
PTI
Chandy ahead by over 2,500 votes
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is leading by 2,849 votes in Puthuppally, while Opposition leader and CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan by 4,056 votes in Malampuzha.
UDF ministers P K Kunhalikutty, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, A P Anil Kumar and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan are also leading in their constituencies.
K Babu, Anoop Jacob and K P Mohan are the ministers who are trailing.
Former government chief whip, P C George, who was not part of both the fronts, is ahead of his rival in Poonjar.
Senior BJP leader, O Rajagopal (Nemom) is leading by over 2,085 votes and Ravisha Thanthri Kuntar in Kasaragod.
BJP state President, Kummanam Rajasekharan, (Vattiyoorkavu), V Muraleedharan (Kazhakootam) and K Surendran (Manjeshwaram) are all trailing.
PTI
Lead for BJP
BJP candidate Ravisha Thantri Kuntar is leading from Kasargod constituency by 4,517 votes.
NDA's Ravisha Thantri Kuntar leading from Kasargod seat by 4517 votes #Kerala #Elections2016
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
LDF gains crucial lead
The LDF took crucial early lead in the Kerala Assembly elections on Thursday. Election officials said that LDF candidates were leading in 83 constituencies and those of the ruling Congress-led UDF in 50. The BJP led in two seats.
Five state ministers trailed. But Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was leading along with Marxist veterans VS Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan.
BJP candidates O Rajagopal and Sobha Surendran were marginally ahead against their nearest rivals. High-profile independent candidate PC George was also leading.
IANS
Will it be a Chandy-led govt?
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is seen at his residence in Kottayam. He is leading from Puthuppally constituency. His alleged involvement in the solar scam could be problematic in the polls.
Kerala CM Oommen Chandy at his residence in Kottayam #Elections2016 pic.twitter.com/031tBH2Ndc
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Will it be a Chandy-led govt?
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is seen at his residence in Kottayam. He is leading from Puthuppally constituency. His alleged involvement in the solar scam could be problematic in the polls.
Kerala CM Oommen Chandy at his residence in Kottayam #Elections2016 pic.twitter.com/031tBH2Ndc
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Vijayan leading in Dharmadam
CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan is leading in Dharmadam, while former chief minister VS Achuthanandan is leading in Malampuzha.
#Election2016 #Kerala Senior CPIM leader Pinari Vijayan leading in Dharmadom constituency by 11688 votes
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
#Election2016 #Kerala Former CM VS Achuthanandan leading from Malampuzha constituency by 4056 votes
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
Chandy leading
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is leading from Puthuppally. Jake C Thomas is contesting against Chandy.
Kerala CM Oommen Chandy leading from Puthupally constituency by 2019 votes #Elections2016
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
LDF leading in 59 seats
The Left Democratic Front is leading in 59 seats, the UDF in 47. Former cricketer S Sreesanth, who is BJP’s candidate in Thiruvananthapuram, is in the third place.
#Election2016 Kerala: LDF leading in 59, UDF 47, NDA 2. Sreesanth is third in his constituency, Congress leading
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2016
KM Mani leading in Pala
Kerala Minister A P Anil Kumar (Congress) is leading by 2,325 votes in Wandoor constituency and minister K C Joseph (Congress) leading by 635 votes at Irrikur in Kannur district.
Former Finance minister, KM Mani, is leading by 155 votes in Pala.
LDF candidates leading include Ramachandran Kadanapally in Kannur, A M Shamseer (Thalassery), James Mathew (Thalaiparambu) and Mathew T Thomas of JDS in Pathnamthitta.
PTI
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