Nilambur bypoll: UDF workers begin celebrations as Aryadan Shoukath’s lead crosses 5,000-mark-OxBig News Network

United Democratic Front (UDF) workers began celebrations as UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath’s lead crossed the 5,000 mark when counting progressed into the seventh round by covering Vazhikkadavu, Moothedam Edakkara and Pothukal panchayats on Monday in the Nilambur bypoll in Kerala.

When two-thirds of the total votes were counted, Mr. Shoukath secured a lead of 5,620 votes.

When Mr. Shoukath secured 43 per cent of the votes counted so far, his immediate rival M. Swaraj of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) got 35 per cent votes.

P.V. Anvar, who necessitated the byelection by quitting his Assembly membership after he fell out with the LDF, has secured 15 per cent votes, giving a shock to both the UDF and LDF. Both of them had chosen to ignore Mr. Anvar as he fought the election on his own.

Counting will have 19 rounds consisting of 14 polling stations for each round. There were 263 polling stations, including 59 new ones, in the election held on June 19.