Kottayam, Sept 27: The ruling CPI(M) led LDF on Friday won the byelection to Pala assembly constituency, wresting the seat from the opposition Congress led UDF.
LDF candidate Mani C Kappen defeated Jose Tom Pulikkunel of the opposition Congress-led UDF in a closely contested fight.
Kappen, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, defeated Pulikkunel, a faction leader of the Kerala Congress (M) by 2,943 votes.
Pala was a bastion of the Congress-led UDF, held by veteran leader and former Finance Minister K M Mani for the last five decades.
The bypoll was necessitated due to the demise of Mani in April.
The win has come as a huge relief to the LDF after its rout in the Lok Sabha polls.
The bypoll was viewed as an acid test for UDF and the BJP headed NDA as a victory would have given boost to the three major combines prospects in the by-elections to five more assembly constituencies scheduled for October 21.
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Tiruchirapalli (PTI): A campaign office of the actor Vijay-led TVK was allegedly torched by unidentified miscreants in Kamanayakkanpalayam village near Srirangam in the early hours of Friday, police said.
According to the police, the damage is minimal. Fire had engulfed the thatched roof providing shade at the entrance of the building that served as the party’s election office for the Srirangam constituency.
While on social media, a CCTV footage of two unidentified men fleeing on motorbike is being circulated as the culprits, police said the video footage is yet to be verified.
Based on a complaint lodged by TVK, the Pettaivaithalai Police have registered a case and initiated a search for the perpetrators.
திருவரங்கம் தொகுதியில் த.வெ.க வேட்பாளரின் தேர்தல் அலுவலகம் மர்ம நபர்களால் தீவைக்கப்பட்டு சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. @TNelectionsCEO @ECISVEEP#TVKVijay #தமிழகவெற்றிக்கழகம் pic.twitter.com/ImDZfTkuAq
— Thanjavur_District_Head (TVK) (@TVK_Thanjai) May 1, 2026
