THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Aruvikkara results, which will be out on Tuesday, will have a significant impact on the state’s politics, and all major political parties are keeping their fingers crossed.
The counting will begin at the Swati Tirunal Music College here at 8 am on 14 tables and there will be a total of 11 rounds. The initial trends would be available by 9 am.
The votes of Tholikode panchayat, which is ruled by the LDF, will be taken up for counting first followed by Vithura (UDF), Aryanad (LDF), which also recorded the highest voter turnout at 79.07 per cent, Uzhamalakal (LDF), Vellanad (UDF), which recorded the second highest voting at 78.83 per cent, Aruvikkara (UDF), Poovachal (UDF) and finally Kuttichal (LDF).
Tight security measures have been taken in and around the counting centre. Vehicular traffic and parking will not be allowed within 100-meter radius of the centre, which will be guarded by the state police.
Checking and frisking of people entering the counting centre will be carried out by the state armed police while the security of the counting hall has been entrusted with the Border Security Force.
The district collector has ordered the closure of all liquor shops, beverages outlets and beer/wine parlours in Aruvikkara constituency and within two-kilometre radius of the counting centre from12 midnight on Monday-Tuesday to 12 midnight on Wednesday.
Counting agents and other non-officials entering the counting hall will not be allowed to carry mobile phones, iPads and laptops, said the district returning officer.
The bypoll, which was necessitated by the death of former speaker G. Karthikeyan, had witnessed a month-long high-voltage campaign.
The constituency recorded 77.35 per cent polling. Of the 16 candidates in the fray, the main contest is between Karthikeyan's son K. S. Sabarinathan of the UDF, Mr M. Vijayakumar of the LDF and Mr O. Rajagopal of the BJP.
The stakes are high for the UDF, LDF and the BJP. A UDF victory will strengthen Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who had termed the bypoll as a referendum on his government’s four-year rule.
Besides, it will silence his critics within and outside the party. It will also be interpreted as rejection of the corruption allegations, including the solar and bar bribe cases.
But a defeat would weaken Mr Chandy's position and even trigger demands for a change in the leadership, especially from the rival ‘I’ group. The verdict will be crucial for the LDF, particularly the CPM.
There will be many to claim credit for the victory – Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan for galvanising the LDF through his electrifying campaign and Mr Pinarayi Vijayan for his effective booth-level management of the LDF election machinery. A defeat will surely invite criticism against the CPM politburo member, especially from the rivals within the party.
Many say a victory or defeat for the LDF might not affect Mr Achuthanandan since he has already proved his worth by attracting huge crowds.
The CPM leadership will, however, reject any attempt to corner Mr Pinarayi with the collective leadership argument. Though the BJP, which fielded its strongest candidate for the bypoll, has not made any claims about winning, everyone is keenly waiting to see how many votes Mr Rajagopal will secure. While the BJP is tipped to get more than the 14,800 votes that its candidate secured in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, the big question will be whose votes will the BJP cut into.
