Counting of votes polled in the Aruvikkara Assembly by-election is a day away, but the ruling and Opposition alliances and the BJP are exuding confidence about the outcome, the first two speaking about certain victory, though by thin margins, and the BJP leadership predicting an impressive show and, perhaps, an upset win if things work out in their favour.
Interestingly, leaders of both the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) speak of only a margin of victory within 3,000 to 6,000 votes, indicating the intensity of the contest in the constituency.
While the LDF leaders spoke of the BJP cornering around 30,000 votes, the UDF campaign managers were ready to give it only around 25,000 votes.
However, the BJP leaders had no doubt that the party would garner around 40,000 votes.
The polling percentage rose from the initially estimated 76.31 to 77.35 per cent by the time the final figures came late Saturday night.
The following are the final poll percentages in the eight panchayats in the constituency: Aryanad - 79.07 per cent, Poovachal - 76.98 per cent, Vellanad - 78.83 per cent, Vithura - 75.82 per cent, Uzhamalakkal - 78.45 per cent, Kuttichal - 75.44 per cent, Tholicode - 74.83 per cent, and Aruvikkara - 78.22 per cent.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here that the UDF would certainly emerge victorious in Aruvikkara. Echoing him, UDF candidate K.S. Sabarinadhan said Aruvikkara would have a UDF legislator when counting of votes concludes.
However, LDF candidate M. Vijayakumar was confident that the people of Aruvikkara would have given a strong rebuff to the ruling alliance.
Almost the same was BJP candidate O. Rajagopal’s position, the veteran anticipating a strong reaction to the ruling dispensation.
The ballot boxes have been shifted to the Swathi Thirunal College of Music in the city where the counting of votes would commence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
Sabarinadhan says Aruvikkara will have a UDF legislator
Vijayakumar, Rajagopal expect rebuff to ruling front
