Cracks in Kannur Fort; Pinarayi Vijayan trails even in fourth round, 13 ministers trailing

KANNUR: As the counting of votes is progressing, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan trailing in Dharmadom has dealt a major blow to the LDF. He is behind UDF candidate V P Abdul Rasheed by around 2,000 votes. Amid the UDF wave, traditional LDF strongholds in Kannur appear to be weakening. Vijayan fell behind after votes from an LDF-governed panchayat were counted. In another setback, P K Sreemathy is also trailing in Taliparamba, indicating erosion of Left support in Kannur.

Along with the chief minister, as many as 13 ministers are trailing in the early stages of counting. Roshy Augustine is trailing in Idukki, V N Vasavan in Ettumanoor, R Bindu in Irinjalakuda, K B Ganesh Kumar in Pathanapuram, P Rajeev in Kalamassery, O R Kelu in Mananthavady, V Sivankutty in Nemom, Veena George in Aranmula, Abdu Rahiman in Tanur, P Prasad in Cherthala.