KOTTAYAM: The Pala constituency that elected K.M. Mani for 54 years will have a new representative today. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am in Carmel Public School. The 1, 27,939 votes in 176 booths will be counted in 14 rounds. The result could be out by 10 am. Even though UDF leads in exit poll results, LDF and NDA do not consider this to reflect in the real results.

UDF election committee convenor Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the UDF candidate Jose Tom will win by a huge margin. CPI (M) Kottayam district secretary V.N. Vasavan opined that Mani C. Kappan will win if there was no vote trading between UDF and BJP.

Karshak Morcha President Jayasuryan is hopeful of increase in vote share and a remarkable win for BJP through candidate N. Hari.