In a major boost to Congress-led United Democratic Front, party candidate KS Sabarinath won Aruvikkara seat on Tuesday by defeating Left Democratic Front's Vijaykumar by over 10,000 votes.
The polling was necessitated in Aruvikkara constituency which fell vacant after former speaker G Karthikeyan's death. An estimated 74.4 per cent turnout was recorded for the bypoll where Kerala's ruling UDF and opposition CPI(M)-headed LDF are locked in a stiff contest.
On winning the seat, Sabarinath said, "It feels good. There are a couple of reasons behind it - good work done by my father, UDF workers worked tirelessly. In spite of rains, the people of Aruvikkara stood tirelessly in queue for hours to vote. This was a vote for Karthikeyan's son. We will continue the good work that my father has been doing. The allegations of opposition did not have any effect on the people."
Rival sides have expressed confidence that the heavy turnout would see the outcome in their favour.
In a three-cornered contest, UDF candidate KS Sabarinath, younger son of Karthikeyan, took on former Speaker and ex-minister M Vijaykumar (LDF) and former union minister, O Rajagopal fielded by BJP.
Film stars and television actors, including Kushboo, Suresh Gopi and Innocent, MP, had hit the campaign trail.
The bypoll is a litmus test for both the Fronts as panchayat polls are to be held later this year and Assembly elections are just a year away.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the poll outcome would be a referendum on the government's performance during the past four years while the opposition was confident that the electorate would deal a heavy blow to the ruling Front which was facing various allegations.
During the campaign, while UDF spoke of development projects it had initiated, LDF attacked the ruling Front with various corruption allegations, including solar and bar bribery scams.
The assembly segment has a total electorate of 1,85,216 voters, with women outnumbering men.
(With additional information from PTI)
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