Belying predictions and brushing aside allegations of corruption, IUML’s V.K. Ebrahim Kunju romped home in Kalamassery, bettering his lead to 12,118 votes from 7,789 votes the last time. While the CPI(M)’s A.M. Yousuf put up a good fight, the NDA put up a good show with BDJS candidate V. Gopakumar polling 24,244 votes. As PWD Minister, Mr. Kunju had come under opposition fire for allegedly fomenting corruption in the department. The killing of a worker in a bridge collapse at Puthenvelikkara days ahead of the polls was used by the LDF to put him on the defensive, but the strategy doesn’t seem to have worked.
