Thiruvananthapuram: Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (M) won the Rajya Sabha bypoll held in Kerala on Monday.
The CPM led ruling LDF candidate Jose secured 96 votes while the Congress led UDF's Dr Sooranad Rajashekharan got only 40 votes. A total of 137 MLA in the 140 member Kerala assembly cast their votes for RS bypoll.
Of these LDF secured 137. One vote was declared invalid. Instead of writing one, one of the legislators drew a star on the ballot paper.
Chief minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leader Mr V D Satheeshan, Speaker Mr M B Rajesh cast their votes in the morning.
The bypoll was warranted by Jose K Mani's resignation in January this year after his party decided to cross over to the the LDF.
Jose who is also the chairman of Kerala Congress (M) had faced a shock defeat in Pala assembly constituency during the last assembly elections in April.
The Kerala Congress (M) leader would have become a minister and got a prominent portfolio had he won his seat. UDF candidate Mani C Kapan defeated Jose.
On Monday Kappan who is down with Covid , came to cast his vote wearing a PPE kit.
