LDF makes significant gains

Kochi: LDF forayed into Ernakulam district by making some major upsets this time, the prominent one being the defeat of excise minister K. Babu at Tripunithura at the hands of M. Swaraj of CPM. Joseph Vazhakkan, sitting Congress MLA suffered another surprise defeat at Muvattupuzha in the hands of youngster Eldho Abraham while in Kothamangalam, T.U. Kuruvila of Kerala Congress (M) lost to another youngster Antony John of CPM.

In another upset, K.J. Maxi of CPM defeated sitting MLA Dominic Presentation of the Congress at Kochi constituency. Mr Swaraj beat Mr Babu by a margin of 4,467 votes. While Mr Swaraj secured 62,697 votes, Mr Babu got 58,230 votes. NDA’s Thuravoor Viswambharan secured 29,843 votes which turned out to be crucial for Mr Babu.